Minister Dempsey Turns sod on €200m Gort to Crusheen Road Scheme
“Continued investment in transport infrastructure is the key to ourfuture competitiveness”
Mr Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport today (Friday, 14 November 2008) turned the sod to formally commence work on the new N18 Gort to Crusheen road project. This new road scheme, due for completion in 2011, will be just over 23km of dual carriageway in length and will cost €207.5 million to build.
• It is estimated that a time saving of 20 minutes or more can be attained on journeys between Ennis and Galway during peak hours.
• This road will bypass the town of Gort and the village of Crusheen in County Galway.
Speaking today Minster Dempsey said:
"This new road will 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”
The Minister added:
“Continued investment in transport infrastructure, even in these difficult times, is key to our future competitiveness. Next year Government will spend over €2 billion on our national, regional and local roads network."
Fred Barry, CEO National Roads Authority (NRA) said:
"The Gort to Crusheen scheme is 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 this 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 1km north of Gort.
Further information:
Press Office Department of Transport: (01) 604 1090 / (01) 604 1091
Olive Stephens (087) 7601642