Green light for Gort to Tuam motorway

WORK on the “stalled” Gort to Tuam motorway will begin next year, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin claimed this week. Minister Howlin declined to give any details on the expected cost of the project when he announced it as part of the Government’s infrastructure stimulus programme on Tuesday.

WORK on the “stalled” Gort to Tuam motorway will begin next year, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin claimed this week. Minister Howlin declined to give any details on the expected cost of the project when he announced it as part of the Government’s infrastructure stimulus programme on Tuesday.
The N18 to N17 Gort to Tuam link will be made up of 57km of motorway, bypassing Clarinbridge, Claregalway and Tuam. Land for the project is already purchased and the funding confirmed on Tuesday means the State is now ready to proceed with work on the major piece of infrastructure.
According to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the majority of the funding for this and other projects announced will come from a combination of the National Pensions Reserve Fund, the European Investment Bank/Council of Europe Bank, domestic banks and other potential private investment sources.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar said more than 60% of the €1.4 billion announced on Tuesday is being spent on transport projects. This means more than €840 million is allocated for the 57km Gort to Tuam motorway, the 26km Gorey to Enniscorthy motorway and the 15km N25 New Ross bypass.
“To put it into perspective, more than 60% of the stimulus funding allocated specifically to PPPs [Public private partnerships] is going on road projects. This will be a vital boost to Ireland’s construction sector and will have significant benefits for job creation. This is a welcome result of careful planning within my department. Instead of freezing the roads programme last year, I took a pragmatic decision to advance each project to the end of its existing phase. This meant a number of projects were ready to proceed in the event of funding becoming available,” Minister Varadkar stated.
“It means we now have a series of road projects, which can commence under the new stimulus plan. Furthermore, the detailed cost-benefit analyses conducted on these projects were important in persuading the European Investment Bank (EIB) of the merits of our case,” he said.
Sean O’Neill, head of communications at the National Roads Authority of Ireland, said the announcement is good news for the project, which had been due to start early last year.
“This announcement by the Government is a welcome development. “We look forward to the funding coming through,” he commented.
Clare TD Pat Breen said he believes the project will be a boost for the construction industry and could also attract new foreign direct investment into the region.
“The ECB has provided loan approval in principle of €170m and there is a preferred tender in place. I would hope now that following this announcement, the project can progress as a priority and if this happens, I believe there is the potential for the project to start construction in the first quarter of 2013,” he said.
Labour TD for Galway West Derek Nolan said the Government decision to fund the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam motorway will further stimulate an economic corridor between Shannon and Limerick and bring Shannon Airport to Galway’s doorstep. He said the announcement “is excellent news for Galway”.
As well as proving beneficial for road users, Deputy Nolan stated, “This project will generate significant numbers of jobs in the construction sector in Galway. It will also create the required infrastructure to help support our economic recovery. This project will significantly improve safety, reduce journey times and improve connectivity within the Western Region,” he added.
“It already has statutory approval, as the land is acquired and there is a preferred tender in place. EIB have already indicated approval in principle for debt funding for the scheme and as a result of this announcement, arrangements to finalise the full funding mechanism can now be progressed. The western seaboard will be able to feed off the economic base between Shannon and Limerick. This will further complement the greater strategic co-operation between Galway and Limerick universities and increase access to the labour market for investors,” Deputy Nolan said.
There was a widespread welcome for the announcement in Clare too.
Clare County Council agreed the Government’s decision to give the go-ahead to the motorway will provide a significant economic boost to the region.
The N18 Oranmore to Gort scheme has been combined with the M17 Galway to Tuam scheme and the N17 Tuam bypass scheme into one large scheme 57km long, known as the N17/N18 Gort Tuam PPP scheme.
“The commencement of work on this motorway project will be welcomed by motorists throughout Clare and the West of Ireland, as it will bypass numerous traffic bottle-necks and vastly improve commuting time for users,” Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Daly said.
Mayor Daly said the new scheme will be complemented by the N18 Ennis bypass and the Gort-Crusheen bypass.
Clare county manager Tom Coughlan described the Gort to Tuam motorway as “critically important for the economic development of County Clare and the surrounding region”.
“Like the Gort-Crusheen scheme, a project that Clare County Council was centrally involved in, the Gort to Tuam motorway will further enhance regional connectivity between Limerick, Shannon, Ennis and Galway. Furthermore, the improvement in connectivity is timely in the context of the restructuring of Shannon Airport,” added Mr Coughlan.
According to the Department of Transport, the Galway city bypass is a “priority project” but it is “currently on hold pending the outcome of legal proceedings”.