THE FIRST of the State's new inter-urban motorways, the 194km M4/M6 route from Dublin to Galway, has been completed six months ahead of deadline and is on schedule to open before the end of the year.
The final stretch of the €427m motorway, which runs 56km from Ballinasloe to Galway, was finished in the last 10 days and notices placed in national newspapers this week announced the toll scheme on the route would go live from December 13.
The road is the first of the inter-urban motorways between Dublin and regional cities, announced by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 1999, to be completed. Motorways between Dublin and Limerick, Cork and Waterford are scheduled to open next year.
The development of the M4/M6 brings Dublin's M50 within two hours of the outskirts of Galway city, when travelling at 100km/h.
A toll plaza close to Cappataggle village will charge €1.90 for cars to use the Galway to Ballinasloe road. This is the second toll on the Dublin to Galway route after the M4 toll at Enfield. The total cost for a car on the Dublin to Galway stretch will be €4.80.
A spokesman for the National Roads Authority confirmed construction was completed but refused to confirm a formal date for the opening, saying safety certification and a formal hand-over would take a few weeks.
