The N6 Galway City Ring Road represents one of the “most important infrastructure projects ever undertaken” for the city, Mayor Mike Cubbard has said.
An Coimisiún Pleanála granted planning permission for the 18km bypass road on Thursday after years of delays.
The project first received planning approval in December 2021, but that was later quashed after a judicial review found that new environmental regulations had not been properly considered in the decision.
Mayor of Galway Cllr. Mkie Cubbard said that the fresh approval marks a significant milestone for the region.
“The Ring Road is one of the largest and most important infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Galway and will bring benefits not just for the city, but for the county and the wider west of Ireland,” he said.
Councillor Cubbard noted, however, that the project alone will not resolve Galway’s long-standing traffic issues.
He said that, alongside initiatives such as BusConnects, active travel investment and increased rail capacity, the Ring Road will play an important role in improving overall transport in the city.
“The Ring Road is not a silver bullet for our city’s traffic congestion issues,” he explained. “While this project will help to remove some traffic from the city and greatly improve connectivity between east Galway and Connemara, we must continue to introduce further measures to encourage a shift towards public transport.”
He added that improving bus and rail services is essential, warning that traffic congestion and limited public transport options are currently acting as barriers to business investment, retail activity and tourism.
Councillor Cubbard also stressed the importance of supporting those directly impacted by the development.
“It is essential that Galway City and County Councils, along with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, engage meaningfully with affected individuals and families, particularly those who may face the loss of property. Ensuring they are supported and assisted to relocate as smoothly as possible must be a priority,” he said.
He said he now hopes the project can proceed without further unnecessary delays and deliver long-term benefits for the region in terms of connectivity, transport efficiency and quality of life.
