Minister for Defence and Clare T.D., Tony Killeen has welcomed the announcement that the preferred tender has been selected for the M17/M18 Gort to Tuam PPP Motorway.

Minister Killeen said the project forms a key part of the Atlantic Corridor and will greatly reduce journey times for traffic along the West coast.

The National Roads Authority confirmed that the BAM Balfour Beatty Consortium is the preferred bidder and they are expected to finalise project acceptance in the coming weeks. It is expected that work on the project will begin early 2011 and be completed by the end of 2014.

Minister Killeen noted that the new motorway will make a considerable difference to those living in Claregalway, Ardrahan, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge and the other towns and villages that will be bypassed by the road scheme.

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He added: “The commencement of work on this motorway project will be welcomed by motorists throughout the west of Ireland as it will bypass numerous traffic bottle necks and vastly improve commuting time for users. The new scheme will be complemented by the N18 Ennis Bypass and soon to be opened Gort-Crusheen Bypass.

"Once completed, the motorway also 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 existing N17 extends from Galway City in the south, through Claregalway, Tuam, Claremorris, Charlestown and Tubbercurry to Sligo in the north. The existing N18 extends from Limerick in the south through Ennis, Gort Clarinbridge and Oranmore to Claregalway on the N17 in the north.

The M18 M17 Gort Tuam PPP Scheme forms part of the Atlantic road corridor, as outlined under Transport 21. It will form a strategic component of the national primary route network providing a high quality link between Dublin and the western region. The scheme will run from Gort in the south to Tuam in the north with a major junction with the N6 Galway Dublin route to the east of Galway City.

(GK)