US MULTINATIONAL and western business and tourism interests have called on the National Roads Authority to start work on the approved section of an outer bypass planned for Galway city.
Half a bypass is better than none, the group believes, but it also wants the National Roads Authority (NRA) to search "immediately" for an alternative route for the western section which was turned down by An Bord Pleanála recently.
"Fundamental shortcomings" in this section's design and layout, and the impact of such a development on Tonabrocky Bog's slender cotton grass ( Eriophorum gracile), which is a legally protected and vulnerable plant species, were cited as main reasons for the refusal, along with a failure to "fully evaluate" other routes in an area near housing at Pollkeen.
The appeals board's decision late last month elicited a mixed reaction, with several local councillors suggesting that the outer bypass project was now "dead" and calling for priority to be given to other transport solutions - including a proposed light rail system backed by business interests, known as Gluas.
Galway City Council has recently commissioned a feasibility study for light rail, and Gluas spokesman Brendan Holland said that he welcomed the fact that the consultants appointed to carry this out had been asked to contact his grouping.
However, Mr Holland stressed that there was still "major disappointment" at the outer bypass decision and its impact on the tourism industry in Connemara.
"We need an integrated package of solutions for Galway's traffic, and we believe light rail would cost €200 million for 21km of track, or €9 million per km - compared to over €31 million per km for Dublin's Luas light rail system".
The Gluas group, which is supported by Galway Chamber of Commerce, proposes that light rail would run from Knocknacarra to Ballybrit and Newcastle to Merlin Park, and would draw on power from wind and wave energy. The business and tourism transport grouping representing Galway Chamber of Commerce, American Chambers Western Branch, the Irish Hotels Federation, Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (Ibec) West region, and the Information Technology Association Galway said yesterday that the An Bord Pleanála approval of a new bridge over the river Corrib was both significant and "very welcome".