THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced €4 million in funding for transport projects in Galway city which will support efforts to improve the flow of traffic.

Under the funding programme, Ceannt bus station near Eyre Square will be revamped to include wider footpaths and better bus bays.

Transport connections to the west of the city will also be improved to add bus lanes, junction changes and upgrade bus stops on the Bishop O’Donnell/Seamus Quirke road to a cost of over €1 million.

The Department of Transport says that €250,000 will be allocated to the continued construction of the Fisheries Field Greenway to link NUIG with the university’s offsite sports fields and the cathedral.

Announcing the €4m allocation today, Minister of State Alan Kelly said that public transport in Irish cities “is in need of improvement” and that Galway is being treated as “a key priority in the national transport plans for the future”.

“Just 4 per cent of work trips in Galway city are made using public transport so people need to be given other options,” he said. “It is also a major tourism hub for the country so improving traffic management and facilitating cycling and walking should improve the experience of the city for both residents and visitors alike.”

Around €200,000 of the funding will be allocated to erecting new signs and information boards in pedestrian-heavy areas like the Salthill Prom and the canal walk.

A study is also being commissioned by the department into the use of the Salmon Weir bridge near the cathedral and possible better uses for the bridge, including a one-way traffic flow or signal-controlled shuttle traffic.

“Up to now, much of the transport investment has been based on yearly spend. However this time we are looking to build this programme on a multi-annual basis to make our spending more effective,” Kelly said.