On Monday I travelled to Government Buildings in Dublin and briefed Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the traffic problems at Parkmore.
At this stage the serious and intolerable traffic problems at Parkmore are all too familiar and especially so to the thousands of workers located there.
At the meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny I highlighted the ongoing problems at Parkmore which is one of the largest centres of employment in the entire country and the workplace for thousands of people across Galway and the West. I stressed the urgent need for a new access road for Parkmore.
The IDA and representatives of the companies based at Parkmore, in conjunction with the City and County Councils, have worked hard to alleviate the traffic congestion. Some of these measures include:
- An increase in road space capacity on the Parkmore Road;
- An increase junction throughput during green signal phasing at the traffic lights at the Monivea Road and Briarhill junctions;
- Traffic light signal optimisation;
- Bus stop improvements; and
- Improvements to the Briarhill Underpass
While the measures are very welcome and are helping I think a new access road is needed to urgently and comprehensively tackle the traffic problems.
The Taoiseach has questions regarding the distances between Parkmore and local roads, including the N17 and Monivea Road, and also agreed that ‘an engineering solution’ is the way forward.
Tackling the traffic congestion at Parkmore is a priority. It is vital for the continued success of Parkmore as a centre of employment for some of the world’s largest and most successful companies but more so because of the impact on the work life balance of the workers at Parkmore.
I will be meeting with City Council Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath on Friday to progress this issue as a matter of urgency and will be briefing the Taoiseach again next week.