From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Plans for the development of the Cross-City Link bus scheme for Galway were lodged with An Bord Pleanála this week – as the details of 31 Compulsory Purchase Orders were revealed.

The proposal, which is a cornerstone of the Galway Transportation Strategy, seeks to revolutionise public transport in the city by facilitating a direct route for buses traversing east to west.

The news comes as Iarnród Éireann announced work will begin next May on an overhaul of Ceannt Station, including the addition of three new train platforms.

It was also announced this week that a feasibility study will begin before the end of this year into whether a light rail system would be suitable for the city.

The 6.7km Cross-City Link bus route runs from University Road, over Salmon Weir Bridge, through St Francis Street, Eglinton Street, Williamsgate Street, Eyre Square, Forster Street, College Road, Lough Atalia Road and on to the Old Dublin Road.

As part of the plans, the B&B at numbers 5 and 6 Headford Road is to be bought by CPO and demolished, to widen the junction of Woodquay, Dyke Road and St Brendan’s Avenue.

In addition, a significant proportion of the Circle K filling station on College Road is required to facilitate two-way bus and car lanes – so significant that it may well leave the business unviable.

Several gardens, carparking spaces at Gleann Nóinín (adjacent to the filling station) and parking spaces at Bayview Guesthouse at Moneenageisha junction all form part of the area that is required.

Senior Engineer at Galway City Council, Uinsinn Finn, told the Galway City Tribune that discussions were ongoing with the 31 landowners involved, and had been for some time as a non-statutory public consultation was carried out in 2021.

“There are a number of ‘hot zones’ in the CPO, particularly the properties at the junction with Headford Road, a chunk of the Huntsman [lawns], the Circle K and any businesses and homes losing . . . . . . . .

This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read extensive coverage of the Cross-City Link proposal, as well as details of all the CPOs, see the September 16 edition of the Galway City Tribune. We also have coverage on the expansion of Ceannt Station and the new transport strategy for Galway. You can support our journalism by purchasing a digital edition HERE.