Scheme Overview
Galway City Council (GCC) is seeking to improve walking and cycling infrastructure along the length of the Western Distributor Road (WDR). This will provide a safe and attractive active travel route, catering for all walkers, wheelers and cyclists, including vulnerable road users.
The project will provide enhanced cycle lanes on both sides of the WDR, as well as safety enhancement works on five roundabouts. The works will improve safety, reduce vehicle speeds, and contribute towards an increased number of trips in the area by pedestrians and cyclists.
The project is in line with the aims of the Galway Transport Strategy, which has identified the WDR as a Primary Cycle Route.
A planning application for this project is now being progressed under Part 8, Article 81 of the Planning Development Regulations 2001 (as amended). You are invited to make submissions as part of this process. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
A drop-in public information event for this project will be held on at the Clybaun Hotel on June 17, 2025 between 12pm and 7:30pm.
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The WDR is already busy cycling route. Introducing safer pedestrian and cycling facilities along this road, including at roundabouts, enhances safety for everyone, including older people, children and vulnerable road users. |
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Improving public transport facilities also improves safety as it helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the road by encouraging more people to choose to travel by bus, when possible. |
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Safer facilities will encourage more children to walk or cycle to nearby schools including St. John the Apostle NS, Knocknacarra NS, Colaiste na Coirbe and Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh. The scheme also offers safe walking, wheeling and cycling connections between a host of residential, retail and commercial premises. |
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Safer walking and cycling facilities help more people to choose to walk or cycle for short trips. This reduces congestion, is good for peoples’ health and helps improve air quality. |
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Enhanced bus stops will facilitate more people to travel using public transport. This will also support the rollout of the new, expanded bus network for Galway. |
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New areas of planting will improve the local environment and enhance the visual amenity of the road. This scheme will also enhance the public lighting along the road. |
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When more people choose to walk, wheel and cycle, this has significant benefits for themselves and for the wider population. The 2023 Galway Metropolitan Area Walking and Cycling Index found that, every day, those who walk and cycle take nearly 29,000 vehicles off the road in Galway. This eases traffic congestion, prevents 236 long-term serious health conditions annually, and saves greenhouse emissions equivalent to 70,000 people taking flights from Shannon Airport to London Heathrow Airport. |
What’s Proposed
The Galway Western Distributor Road (WDR) Cycle Scheme is approximately 2.90kms in length, stretching from Cappagh Roundabout at the westernmost end of the route, going eastwards through Knocknacarra ending at Deane Roundabout (Bishop O’Donnell Road Roundabout) which merges with Regional Road R338. The proposed scheme involves the following:
- Fully segregated footpaths and cycletracks on both sides of the road for Links 1 and 2 (from Cappagh RA to Clybaun RA)
- Addition of bollards to create protected cycle lanes for Links 3, 4 and 5 (from Clybaun RA to Deane RA)
- Upgrade of existing roundabouts to provide segregated cycle facilities. Note – The existing arrangement at Cappagh Roundabout is to be retained and will be upgraded as part of a future scheme. A shared crossing facility across the southern arm is to be provided as part of this scheme.
- Four new pedestrian and cycle crossings will be constructed, and two existing crossings will be upgraded.
- Enhanced bus stop facilities will be provided.
- The scheme will involve limited realignment of the existing carriageway to facilitate the new cycle infrastructure
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Public lighting and services will be upgraded where necessary. Landscaping will also be improved, and new road markings and signage will be installed.