Opponents of the proposed outer city bypass for Galway city fear that rather than presenting a traffic solution, the project will lay open scenic and protected landscape for development.
Members of Hands Across the Corrib (HAC) who oppose the bypass proposal feel their fears are starting to be confirmed with the news of plans to build houses at Barna village. O'Malley Construction Ltd has been seeking planning permission from Galway County Council for 100 detached houses at Truskey west in Barna.
HAC believes the construction of the 25 km motorway, which will include a fifth bridge across the Corrib at Menlo, will facilitate the development of large residential developments on scenic lands.
The organisation, representing communities from both sides of the Corrib, has been pushing for a Galway Transport Initiative to examine Galway's transport needs and produce an integrated transport plan for the next 25 years. To date, HAC has collected 7,000 signatures calling for the establishment of such an initiative.
The group's PRO, Ms Jacqui O'Dowd, is convinced the bypass project is about opening up land for development. As Lough Corrib is one of few lakes in the country to have the triple designation of Special Protected Area, National Heritage Area and Special area of Conservation, she says any plans to cross the river had to be carefully considered.
"Under the EU Habitats Directive, development cannot take place in a SAC unless all other alternatives have been explored. I am not aware that any other alternatives have been looked at apart from the bridge crossing the river at Menlo which is an absolutely unique area."
Ms O'Dowd cites the lack of public awareness surrounding the proposed bypass as a major obstacle to their campaign, saying it brought the consultation process into question.
HAC believes that simple traffic solutions such as park-and-ride facilities, quality bus corridors, light rail and car sharing would be more effective in dealing with the city's congestion problems. Ms O'Dowd claims the proposed bypass will transfer bottlenecks further along the road.
Ms Maura Egan of HAC denies Irish people are so fond of their cars they would not use public transport. "Just test us, if there was a reliable, efficient public transport service in Galway city, it would facilitate so many more people, not just car users but schoolchildren, students and older people."