From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Work on creating new bus and cycle lanes is expected to get underway along the Dublin Road from 2026.

A second round of public consultation has opened on the 4km BusConnects transport corridor running from Moneenageisha junction to the Doughiska Road junction, with the public given the chance to have their say on the ‘emerging preferred route’.

This consists of dedicated bus lanes in each direction for the full length of the route, as well as segregated cycle lanes and footpaths. Dublin Road will remain two-way for general traffic, and all major junctions along the route will be changed to signalised junctions, with provision made for pedestrians and cyclists.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage motorists out of their cars and onto public transport or their bikes by increasing the frequency of buses, cutting delays for passengers caused by tailbacks and making cycling safer by not having to share the road with vehicles.

It is being drawn up in tandem with a Dart-like commuter rail link from Athenry to Oranmore and new park and ride facilities to entice motorists to stay out of the city.

But commuters will be waiting a long time for any improvements, observed City East councillor, Alan Cheevers.

At a briefing for councillors this week, the Council’s Transportation Unit revealed that work is not expected to begin until 2026.

The first round of public consultation took place in 2020, after which a draft preferred route was designed.

Galway City Council said the process was delayed as a result of significant changes in design and procurement rules, which required a review of the proposed design to ensure it complied with an updated Public Spending Code, revised design guidance on layouts for bus corridors and changes to the National Transport Authority’s guidelines for project approvals.

This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, as well as the latest on the proposed cycle and bus lanes on Dr Mannix Road in Salthill, see the January 20 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism by buying a digital edition HERE.