asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department encourage the construction of roundabouts where land is available on major traffic intersections within 30 mile speed limit areas as a replacement for traffic lights; and if he has had any discussions with Galway Corporation on the possibility of providing roundabouts in Galway city at the Moneenageesha Cross, Cemetery Cross junction which is adjacent to Galway shopping centre and the junction adjacent to Galway Regional Hospital.
Written Answers . - Galway Roundabouts Construction .
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: The general question of replacing traffic lights with a roundabout where land is available at a major traffic intersection within a 30 mile speed limit is dependent on several factors, including vehicular traffic flows, numbers of turning movements and the extent of passenger traffic.
Decisions regarding the provision of roundabouts at Moneenageesha and Cemetery Cross roads are matters, in the first instance, for Galway Corporation as road authority. Proposals in this regard have not yet been received in my Department. I understand, however, that proposals are being developed at local level to provide roundabouts at those junctions. The proposals have been the subject of consultations between my Department's engineering advisers and local authority officials.