THE NATIONAL Roads Authority has confirmed that BAM Balfour Beatty Consortium has been chosen as the preferred bidder to build the M17/M18 Gort to Tuam motorway in Galway with construction to commence early in the new year.
At 57km (35 miles) long, the new road will be part of the Atlantic corridor, which runs from Limerick city via Ennis.
The public-private partnership project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
Speaking yesterday, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said: “This new road improvement scheme will make a very big difference to the west of Ireland and in particular those living in Claregalway, Ardrahan, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge and the other towns and villages that will be bypassed by the road scheme.
“It will significantly improve safety and reduce journey times for traffic travelling north-south along the Atlantic corridor,” he said.
“It will improve connectivity between Dublin and the western region and it will significantly assist in the economic development of Border, midlands and western regions.”
The new road will connect with the M6 motorway east of Oranmore and will bypass Claregalway and Tuam at the northern end. Additionally, it will bypass Ardrahan, Kilcolgan and Clarinbridge in the south.
The existing N17 extends from Galway city in the south, through Claregalway, Tuam, Claremorris, Charlestown and Tubbercurry to Sligo in the north. The N18 runs from Limerick in the south through Ennis, Gort, Clarinbridge and Oranmore to Claregalway on the N17 in the north.
Meanwhile, in the High Court in Dublin, threats to an €8 million contract for concrete supplies to the new Cusheen to Gort motorway were lifted yesterday when undertakings were given to the court.
Barrister Matthew Jolley told Mr Justice John Edwards a blockade on four premises belonging to Goode Concrete in Co Galway had been lifted by a diesel oil supplier who claimed to be owed €90,000 by the cement firm.
Mr Jolley, who appeared for Goode Concrete, said Peter Howley, who supplies his client with diesel, had blocked entry and exit points to the plants with lorries but had given undertakings to cease the trespass and assured the court there would be no trespass at the homes of Goode directors.