Ballybrit racecourse manager warns on Galway bypass

Galway Racecourse manager John Moloney has warned that most of the routes proposed for the city's new bypass run through Ballybrit and could force the cancellation of its popular summer racing festival for at least two consecutive years.

Disruption to the racetrack caused by construction of any of four optional routes could cost at least €120 million to the local economy, said Mr Moloney. “Three of the proposed routes involve tunnelling, with one route through the middle of the racecourse which could create a lake due to impact on the limestone,” he said.

Seven bypass options – six road corridors and one dedicated public transport approach – were unveiled several weeks ago by designers of the new road route, with a quoted cost of between €500 million and €750 million. All of the six proposed “corridors” lie south of the previous proposed outer bypass, which was abandoned after expenditure of €14 million on planning and legal costs.

That project was first proposed in 1999, but An Bord Pleanála refused permission for the western section on environmental grounds, while the Supreme Court quashed permission for the eastern section.

Mr Moloney said he discussed the impact of the new plans with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) earlier this week and it was extremely concerned about the implications. He told HRI officials that the proposed routes mapped by designers would all have a serious impact on Ballybrit.

"Cork, Limerick and Ballinrobe racecourses have warned us that it could take at least two years for ground to recover; and a new underpass for Ascot in England took 18 months," he added.

Mr Moloney said he was not opposed to the bypass project, but said it had major implications for his staff. Some 1,500 people are directly employed during summer race week, which attracted 140,000 spectators last year, he said.

Former Galway mayor and Independent councillor Catherine Connolly has questioned why light rail was not considered by the planners.

Public debate on the plans has focused on the demolition of between 30 and 120 homes, depending on which route is chosen.

City and county areas extending from Barna and Newcastle in the west to Menlo, Coolagh and Ballybrit in the east are within the “study area”. About 300 people have received letters to say they could be directly affected, while almost 4,500 landowners, businesses and householders fall within the remit of the six “corridors”.

The final preferred route is due to be decided by April, according to designer Arup, working with the National Roads Authority and Galway County Council.

Last year, the Department of Transport allocated €2 million for the initiative which is being prepared for submission to An Bord Pleanála, with eventual completion by 2019-2020.