Work begins on major new road link with Galway

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Written by David Raleigh

Wednesday, 12 November 2008

A €92M contract is to see construction work beginning this week on a road project that will result in a continuous dual carriageway linking Limerick, Clare and Galway.
Galway County Council have confirmed that it has signed the Design Build Contract with Wills Bros Ltd and SIAC Wills JV Ltd.
The major contract provides for the construction of a high-quality Dual Carriageway extending from Ballingers Corner, North of Gort, Co Galway to Cragard, Barefield, Co Clare where it will join the N18 Ennis Bypass linking Limerick.
The scheme consists of 22km of dual carriageway, 10km of realigned local roads and 12km of accommodation access tracks.
Construction work, which is scheduled for completion in 2011, also involves the construction of 14 new bridges and two-grade separated junctions.
Letters have been issued to landowners along the scheme's route informing them that work on the road project is scheduled to commence next week.
“I am delighted that we will soon have a dual carriageway that extends across County Clare from the borders of Limerick to County Galway. The provision of this new road link will make Clare an increasingly attractive location for commerce and investment,” said Mayor of Clare Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn.
She added that the completion of the dual carriageway was of critical importance to the continued development of Shannon Airport and the entire West of Ireland.
“By expanding its reach into County Galway, this road project will ensure that Shannon Airport will continue to play a key role in implementing a range of existing national policies including balanced regional development, the regional gateways strategy, supporting industry and tourism, improving access and reducing urban congestion,” she explained.
The scheme forms part of the proposed Atlantic Road Corridor, which is an objective of the National Spatial Strategy, the Transport 21 Programme and the National Development Plan 2007-2013.
The Atlantic Road Corridor involves the provision of a major road network to provide a link between the major Gateway urban centres identified in the National Spatial Strategy from Letterkenny through Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork and onto Waterford.
According to David Timlin, Director of Services, Clare County Council, the proposed Atlantic Road Corridor is vital to the economic and sustainable development of the Midwest, Western and Southern Region.
The N18 Gort to Crusheen scheme is being funded by the Irish Government and part-financed by the European Union under the National Development Plan 2007-2013.
The scheme is being undertaken by Galway County Council on behalf of Clare County Council in accordance with an agreement made under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 2001 and approved by the National Roads Authority under Section 14 of the Roads Act 1993.

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