RAIN GARDENS are in full bloom in Galway City to help prevent flooding and enhance drainage.
As part of the recently completed Crescent/Sea Road Junction Upgrade, which was delivered by Galway City Council’s Active Travel Department, two new rain gardens were installed along with a suite of safety improvements for all road users.
They are the first-ever rain gardens installed by the local authority and have brought a fresh splash of colour to the city.
A rain garden is a novel type of landscaping that helps prevent flooding and enhance drainage by capturing and absorbing rainwater. The two rain gardens at the junction of The Crescent and Sea Road have been installed in areas which were previously part of the roadway, which has now been narrowed.
New, wider footpaths have also been constructed in this space. By reducing the width of the roadway, both vehicular traffic speeds and crossing times for walkers and wheelers have been reduced, improving road safety and comfort.
This scheme also saw the construction of a new footpath along The Crescent, linking the 401 Bus Stop to the Medical Centre. Prior to this, there had been no footpath on this side of the road. Two new pedestrian crossings have also been installed, and new safety enhancement works have been completed at nearby Scoil Fhursa as part of the Safe Routes to School Scheme. Works on the project took around five months and were completed in March of this year.
The project has been funded by the National Transport Authority’s Active Travel Programme. John Madden and Sons Ltd. were appointed as principal contractors, and Clifton Scannell Emerson Associates (CSEA) served as consulting engineers. The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme is a nationwide scheme which is operated by An Taisce’s Green Schools Programme in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and local authorities including Galway City Council.
Frank Clancy, Senior Executive Engineer with Galway City Council’s Active Travel Department explained, “rain gardens are a relatively simple nature-based sustainable drainage system. They are designed to reduce the rate of rain runoff from roads and footpaths into underground drainage pipes. By using specially selected plants, the rain garden can soak up excess water, act as a pleasant visual amenity in an urban environment and improve biodiversity”.
He added, “The Sea Road rain gardens are the first of their kind in Galway City and Galway City Council intends to replicate their use in other locations. The design will always be tailored to the specific location and existing underground drainage pipes”.
The new active travel infrastructure in this area is being used by large numbers of people each day, including those attending schools and medical appointments nearby.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr. Mike Cubbard (IND) has welcomed the completion of this scheme. “The works on The Crescent and Sea Road are a welcome addition and benefit all road users in this area. By installing a new footpath, new crossings and enhanced safety measures at Scoil Fhursa, Galway City Council is making active travel more attractive and safer for people of all ages. The new rain gardens are another welcome addition which enhances the aesthetic value of the area while also delivering many important and practical benefits. I look forward to supporting the further rollout of more projects of this nature over the coming years”.
In addition to the Crescent/Sea Road Scheme, construction on another active travel project along Ballybane Road and Castlepark Road is ongoing. Construction will soon begin on the Bóthar Stiofáin Active Travel Scheme, and on a new pedestrian crossing which is to be constructed on University Road, adjacent to Galway Cathedral. A planning application has also been submitted in respect of the Western Distributor Road Cycle Scheme.
