Gort Bypass
WATCH OUT FOR THIS SPACE FOR MORE ON THIS
PROMISED MADE, PROMISES BROKEN SECTION
PART FIVE
Connacht Tribune, Friday, February 29th 2008
Second Entrance to Gort
If traffic volumes on the proposed N18 dual carriageway from Gort to Crusheen justify a further junction at Gort at a future date, on additional junction would be considered for another location.
County Secretary Tony Murphy confirmed this at the meeting of Galway County Council on Monday in reply to Notice of Motion 29 on the agenda proposed by Cllr Michael Fahy.
Cllr Fahy has asked the Council for the up-to-date position regarding a second entrance for Gort from the proposed N18 dual carriageway. Mr Murphy stated that the N18 is currently at Tender Stage and one junction is proposed for Gort, north of the town.
He concluded that traffic on the N18 will continue to be monitored.
Cllr Fahy said that political pressure would be applied to have a second junction in place to facilitate the people of Gort and South Galway.
PART FOUR
CONNACHT TRIBUNE 1ST FEBRUARY 2007
Commitment on New Road Access Stands – say Gort Campaigners.
The group which has been leading the demand for Gort to get a second entrance to the new N18, said this week that reassurances had again been given at the highest level that such a vital second entrance/access would be provided in key designs.
Leading the campaign is GRACE (Gort Regional Alliance for Community and Environment) and it issued a statement this week on the subject, saying that the NRA (National Roads Authority) stood by its commitment on the second entrance.
The GRACE statement said: ‘At a meeting secured by TD Joe Callinan with Martin Cullen and Fred Barry, G.R.A.C.E. was again reassured that the design for the second entrance would be incorporated into the N18 Gort to Crusheen by-pass.
‘Minister Cullen said Mr. Fred Barry, senior executive of the NRA, stated that the NRA and the government agreed that the town of Gort is growing significantly and that the figures presented by the group has been accepted’.
‘The also stated that it is still up to the County Council when they up-grade the local road network, so as to be able to accommodate traffic exiting from the second entrance.. However, the NRA stands firm on the original commitment that it made to the GRACE group to incorporate a second entrance/exit into the overall design of the N18.
“The group had been invited to have a private meeting with the minister during his announcement to provide for an acceleration of the funding within Transport 21, for construction to commence on the N18 Ennis to Galway route”.
“GRACE will have a further meeting with the County Council officials, NRA and South Galway County Councillors on 7th February in order to discuss the matter further” the statement added.
PART THREE
Connacht Tribune 1ST December 2006.
RESIDENTS SPELL OUR THEIR CASE TO THE GALWAY COUNCIL PLANNERS.
“WE’VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK ON GORT’S SECOND JUNCTION”
The need for a second junction access for Gort to the new N18 Dual Carriageway, has become one of the major issues in the Gort area, but especially in Gort Town. One of the groupings which has been leading the campaign for such a junction is GRACE (Gort Regional Alliance for Community and Environment). Here one of the directors, and founders of GRACE, Dr. Niamh Clune, outlines the case and the controversy to-date.
Although the NRA agreed to build and fund a second Junction for Gort off the new N18 Dual Carriageway, Galway County Council still does not believe that this second junction is necessary.
G.R.A.C.E. had been delighted to learn that the NRA approved the second junction. They thought it only a matter of course that the County Council would be willing to upgrade a local road and so work in partnership with the National Roads Authority.
However, the County Council (roads section) still does not accept that Gort needs a second entrance, despite all the figures which suggest the contrary, and despite the fact that the NRA accepted those figures.
One of the circumstances for the building of the second junction was that the up-grading of the Tubber Road, which would be necessary so as to cope with the traffic coming off the proposed second junction. The upgrade of the Tubber Road was not, however included on the list for the EU Co.-Financed Specific Improvements Grant Scheme sent up by Galway County Council to the Deparment, Heritage and Local Governement.
In order to address this issue, GRACE gave a further presentation to the Loughrea Electoral Area Forum in order to inform local County Councillors and Officials of the facts and figures as to why Gort needs a second junction. GRACE’s intention was to ask councillors to exercise their vote in order to get the road included on the list.
GRACE could not understand why they had managed to convince the NRA of the need for a second junction. If the NRA accepted their figures, why did the council not accept the same figures?
Fred Barry, the Chief Executive of the NRA had told GRACE, “having consulted with Galway County Council Planners for the Gort area it is accepted that 395 housing units are in the planning process or under construction currently. These figures and the area of land which is zoned for development does indicate that the town of Gort has the potential to increase in population significantly in the coming years from its current level of approx. 3,000 persons.”
GRACE delegates had also been told by the NRA that if the town has in excess of 1500-2,000 households, it was automatically entitled to a second entrance. In other words, when Gort has a population in excess of 4,350 persons, it is automatically entitled to a second entrance.
The GRACE team identified every single planning application where it was located, the name of the developer, the status of the project in terms of whether or not planning was in process, or had been granted.
When all of these units were added together, there were potentially 1.672 new Households that were built, or would be completed by 2015.
The population of Gort town could reach 7,622 by 2015,
At the very least, based on building permissions and Gort Area Plan, the growing population of Gort Town will allow for a further development of 1,050 new Housing Units within present plan by 2009 which would be in time for the opening of the Dual Carriageway. This population will more than meet criteria of 1,500 Households or 4,350 persons indicated by NRA as automatically justifying a second entrance/exit.
The GRACE group also analysed serviced land zoned housing but not yet purchased. They examined potential Location, the Acreage, the potential units (10 units per acre) and the potential increase in population if this land was developed. The projected population based on Zoning added up to a conservative total of 119 acres with 1,190 units. This could further increase the population by 3,451 persons.
In the Amended Local Area Plan 700 Household are allocated to Gort with a further 30% allowed to accommodate growth. 412 acres are proposed zoned residential. Of these 244 remain undeveloped. The GRACE figures of 119 acres is, therefore, conservative. This means a possible population increase by 2015 to 11,073. This census affirms the growth in that in the past four years, Gort has grown by a staggering 53.3% whilst the Gort Rual Area has grown by 24.8%. This increase in figures is well above the county and national average.
Industial and Commercial
The County Development Plan identifies Gort as a “Service Hub” including health, community, financial, employment and retail”. There also exist established industry and enterprise areas. A new enterprise zoning is proposed to the west of the town on the Regional Road, R460, which will be adjacent to the new N18. Approximately 49 hectares (122 acres) have been designated for industry and 4 hectares (10 acres) have been designated for enterprise. Of this, a total of 43 hectares (106 acres) remain undeveloped.
This means that only 18% of the area designated for Industry and Enterprise is currently developed. If there are approx 400 people working in industry, this represents only 18% of the potential for industry or enterprise. When all the areas designated for industry and enterprise are developed, there might be as many as 2,200 people working in industry and enterprise alone. With corresponding growth in retail, services and catering etc, the projected total employment figure for Gort could increase to 3,000. This will increase incoming traffic to Gort, as many employees will live outside the town. There will also be a direct effect on traffic flowing in and out of the new Industrial Hub currently being created in Oranmore/Derrydonnell.
If the Catchment Population figures are also taken into consideration, as many as 17,647 extra people could be drawn to shop in the new mixed development units currently being planned for Gort. Figures based on Retail Impact Statement currently being undertaken for the town centre mixed use development indicate that the catchment area of Gort is much wider than the rural area of Gort, as it includes parts of Clare. And it shows a further increase of 14% or 2,206 persons.
Tourism
A concerted effort is currently being made by residents of Gort to make Gort a more “actively attractive” town as distinct from a “passively attractive” town.
Gort is a Heritage Town strategically placed between Ennis and Galway. It could also be viewed as a “gateway” to the Burren. 40 bus movements pass through Gort each day. Bus Eireann are considering an increase in their service to half hourly, which would give a total of 50 movements per day. Traffic generated by buses to and from the Knock Shrine also traditionally stop in Gort.
Other tour and privately owned buses come through Gort and with only one access point, all these buses would have to turn around in The Square and use Crowe Street for a second time, further adding to the congestion in Crowe Street and raising a safety issue.
Gort is the centre Point of Western Corridor. There will be no services on the new Dual Carriageway from Limerick to Tuam, which is a distance of 80miles (approx 140km). Ennis Access Points are some distance from Ennis Town Centre and Services. This makes Gort and Ideal Service Town. In fact the new Dual Carriageway needs Gort!!!
Safety
All internal traffic will converge on Crowe Street and feed into one roundabout at Gort Junction. This will be the first point at which traffic from as far away as Limerick (70km approx) will have to slow down or stop until Oranmore Section is built. When this is the case, congestion at present being experience in Clarecastle will be moved to the Gort Junction and will be magnified by the general, projected increase in traffic from the surrounding area. In addition, traffic from Loughrea, Gort town and other local traffic will be feeding into the same roundabout in order to avail of the Dual Carriageway travelling South to Ennis, Limerick and Shannon Airport. Congestion during peak travel times will cause long delays and generate much extra pollution, as cars will be stationary with engines running.
Both in the shorter term, and in the long term, on completion of the Gort to Oranmore Scheme, with one access point, all traffic from and too Loughrea, Gort Town and areas North, South and East of Gort will be able to access the Dual Carriage Way via Crowe Street only. The width of the road at Crowe Street where the road meets the square is 6.6 metres.
This is at Sullivan’s Royal Hotel and adjacent to the local Post Office and at a point where pensioners in particular cross the street. This part of the road is a dangerous bottleneck. While it is accepted that much of the “true traffic” will be removed with the dual carriage way, a lot of this traffic will be replaced by new traffic gaining access to and from Gort Junction, which according to the new statistics will be generally increased.
G.R.A.C.E. is known to represent 30 groups in the Gort region. This shows how coordinated and cohesive the community of Gort has become. The Government has been promoting Active Citizenship. So, G.R.A.C.E. argues that it is hard to understand why the County Council, which should be working within LA21 Guidelines so as to empower communities to be active participants in decision making processes, would disagree with the community which has obviously done its homework and knows what is needed to make the town strong, vibrant and successful. It is also difficult to understand why a County Council Roads Department would disagree with figures that the National Roads Authorities have accepted.
The G.R.A.C.E. group is at pains to point out that Galway County Council roads section should be planning 15 years ahead. The projected population growth should be taken into consideration now. These figures are had evidence. It is too late to build a junction after all the development has physically taken place. The second junction is essential to Gort and should be built at the same time as the N18 Dual Carriageway. Following the G.R.A.C.E. presentation the South Galway County Councillors unanimously voted to have the road included on the list to be sent up to Minister Roche’s department.
Dr. Niamh Clune.
Managing Director, GRACE.
PART TWO
Connacht Tribune 17th September 2006.
GROWING POPULATION THE REASON WHY GORT IS SET TO GET SECOND ENTRANCE
The growth of Gort’s population has been identified as the crucial element in the NRA’S decision to provide for a second entrance to Gort Town from the proposed N18 Gort to Crusheen dual carriageway.
The NRA confirmed this week that they will fund these second access works.
It emerged, however, that before the work on the second access junction to Gort town begins, Galway County Council will be required to produce evidence of Gort’s projected population. The purpose of producing such evidence is to satisfy the planning requirements of Galway County Council’s Planning Authority.
News of the NRA’S confirmation of this second junction was announced this week by Noel Tracey, TD, Minister for European Affairs.
In a statement, Minister Tracey confirmed that “ the NRA have committed that they will fund works on the new N18 to provide a second access junction, south of Gort town”.
“Population growth as identified by the Gort Regional Alliance for Community and Environment was a major factor in the NRA’S decision,” he said. “Prior to work commencing, Galway County Council will be required to produce quantitative evidence of the projected population in order to satisfy planning requirements”.
He concluded: “ I am delighted that we have been able to continue with the critical road improvements that are so vital to mobility for all of our people, both rural and urban, and in consultation with the local community. I am confident that the improvements will be a major benefit to them in the years ahead”.
PART ONE
Gort Says Won't Allow 'Renege' on a Second Link to Motorway
By Declan Tierney Connacht Tribune issue 10th August 2006
A second access to the town of Gort from the proposed new N18 dual carriageway is under threat as Galway County Council say it is dependent of the volumes of traffic which would use it.
Community leaders in Gort say that they were assured by the National Roads Authority that a second junction would be provided which would access the town from the new road.
However, Galway County Council have informed TD Paul Connaughton that a seocnd access point would not be built until the traffic volumes and population increased to such a level to make it financially viable. If this was the case, then motorists travelling along the new dual carriageway would have only one opportunity to access Gort town - missing the turn would mean motorists having to travel to Ardrahna before being afforded the chance to get back to the town.
The 24 kilometre stretch of dual carriageway which, includes the Gort-Crusheen By-Pass is likely to cost in the region of €230 million and is expected to begin construction by 2008 with a 2011 completion date.
It starts a half mile on the Galway side of Gort and comes out on the Ennis side of Crusheen village in North Clare, along the route of the old railway line, which is due to be re-opened as part of the Western Rail Corridor.
Recently, community activists had received assurances from the NRA that there would be two interchanges which would provide access to the town of Gort - but now there is a lot of ambiguity about this. Following a query to Galway County Council form Dail Deputy Paul Connaughton concerning the upgrading of the roads from the interchanges along the dual carriageway to Gort town, he said he was told a very different story.
"When I approched Galway County Council this week, to make representations for the necessary funding to reconstruct the slip roads leading to and from the new interchange I was informed that no such funds were being considered. Senor roads officials believe the NRA decision really meant that the interchange would only be made available when the traffic volumes would justify the extra expenditure" he siad.
Deputy Connaughton said he was shocked that the NRA and the County Council were not "singing off the same hymn sheet". "It was my understanding that the provision of a second access into Gort was done and dusted" he said.
Dr. Niamh Clune, Chairperson of the Gort Regional Alliance for Community and Environment, who led the campaign to demand a second access pointk siad that the County Council could not turn their backs on a promise made by the NRA. "The bottom line is that Gort needs two access routes from the dual carriageway because it has the population to justify this. It is nothing short of disgraceful if the local authority do not provide the fundning to facilitate a second access".
"I know that Galway County Council do not believe that there is a need for a second access but this is an NRA decision following pressure applied by the people of Gort and it cannot be reneged upon " Dr. Clune.
