No toll planned for future motorway

“No stone will be left unturned” in the Government’s attempt to find funding for the Gort to Tuam motorway, according to Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly.
He added that tolling is not envisaged on the proposed road and stated “the economic logic behind such a proposal would not stand up to scrutiny”. The junior minister was responding to questions in the Dáil from a local Fianna Fáil TD, who called for answers from the Minister for Transport about the future of key infrastructure projects in the constituency.
Galway East Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kitt raised a special Dáil debate on the issue last week and in particular questioned the Government about the planned Gort to Tuam motorway and the Tuam bypass.
Questioning the minister in the Dáil, Deputy Kitt said, “When the Ennis to Gort motorway, including the bypass of Crusheen, was completed some years ago, people in east Galway and across the West were looking forward to the commencement of the Gort to Tuam motorway. As well as the need for the motorway, there was a hope that the project would create employment.”
Deputy Kitt reminded the Minister of State of the project’s history.
“In 2010, the contract for the project was awarded to the BAM Balfour Beatty consortium, which could not secure the financial backing to start it. Later, the National Roads Authority had discussions with the consortium known as Roadbridge.
“Again, private funding was a problem. It is now reported that consideration has been given to completing the Gort to Athenry section only. This is bad news for Tuam, where there is traffic congestion and for years there have been traffic delays between Tuam and Galway city. If the funding allows a motorway from Gort to Athenry, there is the question of Claregalway. What are the proposals for Claregalway?”
Deputy Kitt acknowledged that funding from private sources “has been difficult to obtain” adding “the West has suffered cutbacks to transport infrastructure projects. There have been cutbacks relating to Galway Airport and delays on the western rail corridor. The minister has not been hopeful about the western rail corridor project recently. Neither has he been hopeful about the future of Galway Airport. These are all related because they are part of the transport infrastructure we would like to see in the West.”
Minister Kelly responded in the absence of Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar.
“The project will significantly improve safety, reduce journey times, improve connectivity within the western region and significantly assist in the economic development of the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) region. The scheme will improve access to Shannon Airport and Ireland West Airport at Knock, which has been identified as a major infrastructural requirement for sustaining industrial growth in the region. Additionally, the development of a high quality dual carriageway-motorway link between Letterkenny and Waterford is a specific objective of the National Development Plan, NDP, 2007 to 2013 and the proposed N17-N18 PPP scheme represents a part of the proposed network,” he stated.
Minister Kelly highlighted the difficulty sourcing private funding.
“As the deputy is aware, the successful awarding of a major PPP contract involving private funding is challenging at any time but is particularly challenging in current circumstances where the country has been the subject of intervention by the IMF and the European Union. Despite this, every effort will continue to be made to progress this PPP within the timeframe of the current capital programme, which runs to 2016.”
Deputy Kitt asked Minister Kelly to clarify whether the road, when completed, would be tolled.
“No change is envisaged on the issue of tolling. There is no plan to toll the road and no indication that there will be a change of mind in that regard. The economic logic behind such a proposal would not stand up to scrutiny,” Minister Kelly said.
Minister Kelly accepted that the project has “taken a considerable length of time. I know the value of such a road, as I am familiar with the area and the towns affected.
“I have been subject to delays there on many occasions in my current job and previous ones. The scheme is valuable but, unfortunately, given the economic environment, as the deputy is aware, funding is an issue. However, we are working with the NRA to consider every single avenue from a funding perspective. No stone will be left unturned to find a solution to the problem.”
“It was suggested work on the 57 km stretch of road could be carried out on a phased basis but I envisage the ultimate goal would be to complete the entire length, encompassing the towns to be bypassed, because the sum of the parts would be more valuable than any one part on its own and it would be of more benefit if the work was done in one go. As the deputy is well aware, when that will be is something on which we will continue to work,” Minister Kelly concluded.
Speaking after the Dáil session, Deputy Kitt said the response from the junior minister was “extremely disappointing for the people of Galway East”.
“The minister gave no commitment to the future of the Gort to Tuam Road and the Tuam bypass, citing delays with the planning process and funding issues,” Deputy Kitt said, before appealing to the minister to engage with the National Roads Authority to speed up the process and help guarantee its future.