Consultants have decided on the route for the new bypass of the city – which includes a tunnel running from Coolagh to the entrance of the Racecourse, the Galway City Tribune can exclusively reveal.

The route is not specifically one of the existing six ‘coloured’ routes which were previously published, although it does incorporate significant parts of the blue route.

Reports elsewhere today suggesting a tunnel under the Racecourse and the ‘pink’ option are incorrect.

The three main areas affected in terms of landowners and homeowners will be on the city side of Castlegar, on the N84 (near Clada Minerals) and in the Dangan/Circular Road area.

A tunnel will be built from Coolagh close to some derelict houses at Briarhill, where new junction arrangements will be put in place. It’s understood a number of stables at the Racecourse will have to be demolished, but the course itself will be largely unaffected.

The tunnel will run to the existing Racecourse Road (where Brooks and a number of other businesses are based), before opening up for a run down the hill behind the Racecourse (adjacent to the An Post depot) and across to the N84 near Clada Minerals, a bridge over the Corrib and running through NUIG lands at Dangan and on to Barna. It’s understood this will be through a green area at NUIG and not the hockey pitch area.

However, the route corridor chosen is 150 metres wide, and this will have to be narrowed to an actual route of 25 to 50 metres wide, and it’s understood there has been some flexibility built into its journey through NUIG lands and at Barna.

The Galway City Tribune understands that between 40 and 50 landowners will receive letters next Wednesday informing them of the decision.

It is also understood that the process of ‘unoficially’ informing homeowners and landowners along the route began on Friday morning.

A spokesperson for the National Road Design Office has refused to comment.