A whole range of Galway transport projects must be urgently fast-tracked to deal with the 'huge' traffic problems in the city.
Locals say it can take nearly an hour and a half to cross the city - and the logjam is beginning to impact on foreign direct and multinational investment in the city.
On The Pat Kenny Show Fianna Fáil Councillor Alan Cheevers said the city needs to see public and active transport options rolled out urgently alongside the proposed new 18km ring road.
He said traffic is the biggest issue in the city after housing.
"It's a huge issue, I think it's going to have huge implications long-term for us in relation to direct foreign investment and multinational investment," he said.
"What we need to see is our public transport options that are on the agenda to be rolled out rolled out quicker.
"We need to our park and ride, our commuter rail and many other things."
In 2018, plans for an 18km ring road in Galway City were submitted and approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2021.
The plans came before The High Court in February last year because An Bord Pleanála did not take the State's climate action plan into account when it was making the decision to approve the plans.
A father and son push their bikes along a scenic country lane. Image: Ian Lamond / Alamy Stock PhotoCllr Cheevers said getting to Galway city isn't the issue - but getting around the city is a nightmare.
"You can go from Dublin into the Galway clinic, which is the entry into the city, probably within two hours,” he said.
"But then, to get from the Galway clinic over to Salthill you could be an hour and a half trying to get through with traffic.
"We need a suite of measures: we need active travel; we need public transport and I do believe that we need the outer ring road.
"I would say that if you ask the people of Galway city... I think overwhelmingly they would be very much in support of the outer ring road."
Cllr Cheevers said a 4km BusConnects corridor won't be ready until 2028.
"If really want to get people out of cars and get more people on to public transport and cycling, we need to get construction of these projects rolled out quicker," he said.
"I think the will is the problem; I think that we need to see projects fast-tracked quicker," he added.
'We need alternatives'
Galway Cycling Campaign Deputy Chair Martina Callanan told the show the city has to come together on this issue.
"I think it's wonderful that people finally realise that here in Galway we need alternatives," she said.
"We need to unite and put all our energies into creating other options for people, other than the car, to really get Galway moving.
"There's a lack of safe, protected cycle paths; I don't think anybody can disregard that absolute fact.
"What I do is I have figured out my own routes... I tend to cycle through quieter, residential areas where there's lower volumes of motor traffic that are going at slower speeds.
"So I have found alternative routes around the city away from the main roads, and even often away from the limited cycle track that is available in the city."
'30 years of inaction'
Ms Callanan said plans being talked about are to be welcomed but they are too slow.
"We've had the last 30 years of inaction," she said.
"It's great hearing about these plans coming on for the double-tracking at Oranmore and the slow, slow, painful development of BusConnects.
"But there's tonnes of small, cheap fast interventions we could be doing right now.
"Creating safe routes to schools, parks, swimming pools, GAA, rugby, hockey pitches.
"Galway doesn't have a traffic problem so much as a school and child transport problem," she added.
Galway was not included on the most congested cities list for 2023, which saw Dublin come in at number two.
