Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 320: To ask the Minister for Transport his estimate of the number of extra heavy goods vehicles that will use the West Link toll bridge as a result of the opening of the Dublin Port tunnel; his estimate of the number of extra heavy goods vehicles that will use the M50 as a result of the opening of the port tunnel; the number of heavy goods vehicles which currently use the toll bridge; the number which currently use the M50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33522/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Traffic management in general is a matter for the appropriate local authority and, in the vicinity of Dublin Port, that authority is Dublin City Council. By agreement with the other local authorities and the National Roads Authority, NRA, the day-to-day traffic management on the M50 is the responsibility of Dublin City Council. Issues relating to the West Link toll bridge are matters for the NRA and toll operator, National Toll Roads, NTR.

I am informed by Dublin City Council that, based on a survey carried out by the Dublin Port Company on the origin and destination of Dublin Port traffic, and counts undertaken by Dublin City Council, it is estimated that approximately 2,200 additional heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, are expected to use the M50 and the West Link toll bridge daily following the opening of the Dublin Port tunnel. It should be noted that this figure refers to traffic travelling in both directions on the M50.

I am also informed by the NRA and NTR that current traffic flows at the West Link toll bridge are 98,000 AADT vehicles, of which 11,500 are classified as HGVs. Data on traffic flows, including proportion of HGVs, at various points of the M50 are available on the NRA website, www.nra.ie.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 321: To ask the Minister for Transport if quality bus corridors are proposed in the document Transport 21 commencing at Lough George, County Galway — north of Galway city — and continuing towards Galway city to the first roundabout to facilitate the orderly transport of workers to and from Galway city by bus; if his attention has been drawn to the traffic jams at places like Claregalway every day of the week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33547/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Transport 21 provides for funding for quality bus corridors, QBCs, traffic management and park and ride in regional cities throughout the period up to 2015. However, Transport 21 does not allocate funding for any specific quality bus corridors.

It is a matter for the local authorities to prioritise the most suitable routes for QBCs and to apply to the Department for funding. The Department has no application on hands for funding for a QBC from Loughgeorge towards Galway city. The possibility of a QBC from Loughgeorge towards Galway city has been the subject of extensive discussions between Galway County Council and the NRA since 2004. The outcome of that discussion was that the road from Parkmore junction towards Galway city centre was identified as the most suitable stretch of the N17 for implementation of a QBC primarily as it can be located in a reduced speed limit zone.

Galway County Council has recently commenced work, with funding from my Department, on a quality bus corridor on the N17 from the Parkmore junction in an inward direction towards Galway city centre in order to assist in the alleviation of congestion on the N17 route. My Department has also funded the implementation of 800 metres of quality bus corridor in Galway on the Dublin Road from the Skerritt roundabout to the Renmore road, which was officially opened in February 2005. Galway City Council is currently carrying out a 2 km extension of this quality bus corridor on the Dublin road from the Skerritt roundabout to the Doughiska road with funding from my Department.

In addition, my Department is also making funding available for a major consultancy study, commissioned by Galway City Council, to examine the potential for additional bus priority, bus transportation and park and ride in Galway city and environs. Funding will be available under Transport 21 for suitable QBC, bus priority, and park and ride proposals that emerge from this consultancy study.

The bypassing of Claregalway, which should alleviate traffic congestion around the village, is part of the N17 Galway to Tuam project consisting of 25 km of high quality dual carriageway. The design work on the N17 project is continuing on an ongoing basis and it is expected that the environmental impact assessment-compulsory purchase order will go to a hearing during 2006. All the above measures will help to alleviate traffic congestion and to improve traffic flow within Galway city and in the city environs.