M6 - Galway City Ring Road [planning decision pending]

Are we looking at another public consultation?

"The national planning board has written to Galway County Council to inform them that they must open the project up to further public consultation because significant information was not previously made available for public comment."

I wonder what the "significant information" is and if this information was perviously availble, why didn't ABP catch this first time?

https://irishcycle.com/2025/06/09/an-bord-pleanala-orders-opening-of-galway-ring-road-plan-to-new-public-input-as-additional-information-provided-by-council-is-significant/

What length of time does that add to the application process.

I thought the same: I don't see the need for the added consultation here, but that maybe ABP are covering themselves from any possible accusation that they didn't follow due process.

Also I thought maybe they want others to do their dirty work for them, by putting forward those numbers arguments we've discussed at length on here.

And also I wondered if they wanted to use the public consultation forum to allow the project team to respond to those arguments: "we have taken all of the numbers into account and the proposed option is the best that can be done" etc.

I cannot find anything, last I heard there was talk of yet another public consultation, so lets be honest even if this plagued, god foresaken road ever gets the go ahead, it will be well into the next decade at least before we ever see any of this ring road. Personally I don't think it will ever be built, and Galway City Council should hang their heads in shame for doing absolutely nothing for the last 30 - 40 years, and sitting idly by while people waste hours of their precious time every day sitting in traffic.

Ya have to blame both Councils. Galway County are equally if not actually more at fault than the City for getting us into this Car Traffic mess that the City and County find itself in.

it will be well into the next decade at least before we ever see any of this ring road. Personally I don't think it will ever be built, and Galway City Council should hang their heads in shame for doing absolutely nothing for the last 30 - 40 years

Some of us have been saying this for more than 5 years.

Even with prompt planning approval and government funding, absolute best case was the ring road opening some time post 2030. That means that nothing else happens for more than a decade. The more realistic scenario of course was still running around in planning and legal circles for the rest of the 20s, meaning nothing else happens for more than a decade and you start from 0 having lost a decade. This was all entirely predictable and should not be a surprise to anyone.

If it became a massive political issue it would certainly. I haven't heard of any protests or marches. It's a non issue really in the grand scheme of things.

There's no real will from people to push for it, so it'll rumble on quietly for another few decades.

Honestly I don't think the council have a clue, they probably know that this road will never be built, so they are trying to cover themselves by stating it will only make things worse, which I find very hard to believe. Much and all as I love Galway, I now live in Dublin, so I only have to put up with the lovely Galway traffic once a month when I venture home for the weekend.

Having long had intentions to move to Galway, I had promised myself I would not do it until a ring road was built. 2 years ago I gave in and moved anyway. I have taken a great interest in the ring road for many years. I have read many of the reports and comments on here. Now that I've lived in Galway for 2 years I can see with my own eyes the problems, and that the transport and traffic situation is strangling the city. For example there are many prime sites for building houses west of the Corrib, where people want to live, but access in and out is awful and will only get worse.
Galway is a clear example of a city that absolutely needs improvement in road infrastructure, to get it to a basic functioning level. Anyone who thinks that Galway can thrive and grow without another bridge over the Corrib, is detached from reality. Then there needs to be huge investment in the bus network, maybe even trams, cycling infrastructure and even simple walking routes. It's not one or the other, both are badly needed.

Anyone who thinks that Galway can thrive and grow without another bridge over the Corrib, is detached from reality.

Another bridge is one thing but what they are trying to get planning for is not just a bridge. Spending €1bn while doing absolutely nothing for public/active transport is equally detached from reality

The Council Executives were fearful it would "work too good" ?

To be honest they have boxed themselves into a corner with all the bad planning decisions going back decades especially in the County area's near the City, and the NEW City area's on the outskirts developed in the last 30 years.

It's no surprise that its the County Council leading on the GCRR.