The motorway between Dublin and Galway will be extended by another 19 kilometres today with the opening by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen of the new Kinnegad to Tyrrellspass section of the M6.
The new section is part of a larger 28 kilometre scheme to link Kinnegad with Kilbeggan which is not due to open until the end of next year. However, Mr Cullen determined that as much of the route was complete, motorists should have the benefit of the road ahead of schedule.
Mr Cullen is to also open a section of the Ennis bypass later this month, in advance of the complete bypass opening to traffic in the new year.
The new 19 kilometres section of the Dublin to Galway route runs westward from the junction of the new M4 tolled motorway at Kinnegad, bypassing the towns of Milltownpass and Rochfortbridge.
The motorway standard road will however be treated as a dual carriageway with a 100 km/h speed limit until the designation "motorway" and the corresponding speed limit of 120km/h is officially applied by Westmeath county councillors.
It will run parallel to the existing N4 which is a narrow single carriageway route with little opportunity for overtaking.
The replacement of the old road as the main route for through traffic is expected to reduce travel times between Dublin and Galway as well as easing traffic congestion in Rochfortbridge and Milltownpass.
A roundabout east of Tyrrellspass will link to the new road.
The remainder of the road scheme from Tyrrellspass to Kilbeggan is not scheduled to open until the fourth quarter of 2007. A following section from Kilbeggan to Athlone comprising about 30 kilometres of motorway is already under construction but is not expected to open until 2008. It will bypass Horseleap and Moate and tie in to the northern bypass of Athlone.
At that point there will be dual carriageway or motorway from Dublin city quays into Connacht west of the Shannon at Athlone.
The section of the Ennis bypass to be opened by Mr Cullen before Christmas will provide a bypass of the town for traffic between Limerick and Galway, while links to west Clare remain to be constructed.
The Ennis bypass will leave the existing Newmarket on Fergus bypass at Dromoland Interchange heading in a northerly direction just east of and generally parallel to the existing N18.
It continues north, passing to the east of Ennis, before rejoining the N11 near the village of Barefield.
