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Detailed plans have been approved by Galway Council for Íarnród Éireann to construct a railway station as part of the Limerick to Galway Railway project at Garraun South in Oranmore.
The plans include a new 174m platform, 150-bay car park, equipment room, platform shelter and associated infrastructure including access roads and all required services (gross floor space station services room 20 square-metres).
According to website unearthore.com, plans were approved at the end of February, after only being submitted prior to Christmas.
This is despite opposition to the project and follows continuing opposition to a proposed new outer bypass route around Galway at the beginning of February.
Hands Across the Corrib (HAC) - made up of residents and community representatives – is an organisation which opposed the proposed construction of a new road and bridge as part of the scheme. They claimed that Galway didn't need a new outer bypass route and that improved public transport should be tried instead.
They also rejected the notion of a 'small group of high powered people' seeking to influence a case before the European Court of Justice.
Their response came after it emerged earlier that a delegation of industrial, business and political representatives met with the environment section of the European Commission to try and 'fast forward' the case.
HAC said that simple solutions they had put forward 10 years ago had yet to be addressed in a meaningful way.
These included park-and-ride, mini-roundabout, one-way systems, synchronised traffic lights, facilities for cyclists and improved public transport.
They claimed that 11 years ago, the bypass project was costed at €47m but this had now risen to €370m, with €20m already spent.
The group also claimed that the proposed GLUAS light rail system would solve the city's transport problems as well as being economic, efficient and environmentally friendly.
(JG)
