‘Astronomical’ ramp cost to put lifesaving Galway road safety measure on hold
The projected ‘astronomical’ of three ramps could delay their installation at three pedestrian crossings along the lake road in Loughrea, putting lives at risk
Loughrea councillors are disputing the projected “astronomical” cost of three Gort Road ramps, which would delay any meaningful safety measures to protect pedestrians from being mowed down.
Residents have been lobbying for table-top ramps to be installed at three pedestrian crossings to force drivers to slow down along the R380 Road along the lake in Loughrea.
Many children and elderly residents are being put at risk as they attempt to cross the one-kilometre stretch with access to two playgrounds, tennis courts and Corry's Field walking park.
A June 2025 Galway County Council survey revealed that 74% of motorists exceeded the 50 km/h speed limit, with speeds recorded up to 119 km/h.
Residents are also calling for permanent speed cameras for consistent enforcement of the limits and a speed limit reduction from 50 km/h to 30 km/h on the stretch from the lake car park to the West Bridge.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Regan described the predicted costs of the work, put at €35,000 for traffic sureys and €150,000 for the ramps to be built, as astronomical.
Cllr Michael 'Moegie' Maher (FG) said with those costs the project would take ten or 20 years to complete.
Fine Gael's Cllr Jimmy McClearn said the residents were looking for simple ramps at pedestrian crossings already in place.
“What's there in Portumna is a fine example – it slows traffic from the N65 from Kilimor and allows people to cross safe. I'm querying the cost – how a simple ramp can cost that much,” he told this month's Loughrea Municipal District meeting.
Senior executive engineer Gerard Haugh said the costs were based on tenders recently sent out by the Council. A similar scheme in Kilreekle had a budget of €62,000 but this was too conservative and money had to be taken from the regional road maintenance fund to complete road markings.
The design for that scheme was done inhouse by Council engineers and was for a single ramp. The Gort Road costs had to cover traffic management, additional signage and possible drainage measures.
Cllr Maher recalled that two ramps had been installed on Abbey Street, Loughrea for €20,000, which had been funded by Cllr Declan Kelly's Notice of Motion [NOM] money.
“I can't understand why we cant put in ramps for less than €150,000 to try and slow down the traffic. A child or somebody is going to be hurt or badly damaged. If we don't do something in the MD [Municipal District] shame on us councillors. I'm willing to put up my NOM to put in a ramp. God forbid one of our grandkids or somebody is killed crossing that road. We have to do something temporarily and have to do it now.”
Cllr Kelly (IndIre) said he had requested that a tree obstructing the view of people crossing the Gort road be cut back and a 'children at play' sign to be erected but it had fallen on deaf ears.
“What in the name of Christ is going on?,” asked the former priest.
Mr Haugh said there were other locations that had worse speeding that were being prioritised for traffic calming schemes.
The cost of the Abbey Street ramps was lower because it didn't involve separate traffic management crews as it was carried out at the same time as other works, he insisted.
He could include it in the 2027 safety schemes but it would likely be 2029 before work would be completed.