Sod turned on Gort Crusheen Bypass

Tuesday, 06 January 2009

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Tom McCullough

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey turning the sod to mark the beginning of construction on the new N18 Gort/Crusheen dual carriageway. It will be 23 kilometres long, bypass Gort and Crusheen and when completed in 2011, will have cost over €207 million. Also in picture are Mayor of Galway Cllr Peter Feeney, Mayor of Clare Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, Noel Treacy TD, Frank Fahy TD, Timmy Dooley TD and Minister of State, Michael Kitt TD. Hany Marzouk.

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey turned the sod to mark the formal start of construction work on the new N18 Gort to Crusheen road project last Friday with a prediction that the new dual carriageway will shorten the travel time between Ennis and Galway by 20 minutes or more during peak commuting hours.
The new road, which is due for completion in 2011, will comprise of just over 23km of dual carriageway from Ballinger’s Corner, north of Gort to Cragard in Barefield and will cost €207.5 million to build.
The sod-turning ceremony itself sparked concern among local landowners who are unhappy that the project commenced before negotiations were completed with Galway County Council over the sale of land for the bypass.
Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony, Minster Dempsey said the road would eliminate one of the worst bottlenecks along the Atlantic corridor.
“The Gort to Crusheen project is one of the strategic links along the entire Atlantic corridor. This project emphasises the importance of investing in the road infrastructure so that business and regional economic hubs such as Limerick, Shannon and Galway can compete in this ever demanding national and global environment.
“The key benefits will be three-fold, a safer road, direct regional economic investment and easier access for visitors. For the people of Gort and Crusheen it will give them back their towns by dramatically reducing through traffic.
“Continued investment in transport infrastructure, even in these difficult times, is key to our future competitiveness. Next year, the Government will spend over €2 billion on our national, regional and local roads network,” the minister concluded.
Fred Barry, CEO National Roads Authority chief executive Fred Barry said the Gort to Crusheen scheme was another major step to linking Limerick, Shannon and Galway.
As the Ennis bypass has proven, road infrastructure will continue to improve the quality of life for residents and deliver opportunities for businesses to development throughout the entire region.
The contract to build the road was awarded by the NRA to SIAC Willis JV.
Work will commence at the northern-end of the Ennis Bypass and will extend to approximately one kilometre north of Gort.

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