The sod was turned on a major road project in the West of Ireland - N6 Galway to Ballinasloe on Friday, 4 May 2007 by Mr Noel Treacy, Minister for European Affairs. The PPP (public private partnership) project comprises 56 kms of new dual carriageway, a 7 km link road to the Loughrea Bypass, 32 kms of side roads and five grade separated junctions. It is being funded under the National Development Plan as part of the Government’s investment programme Transport 21, and private finance. The project commenced immediately and is due to be completed early in 2010.  

At the sod turning ceremony, Minister Treacy said: “This is the second largest road scheme in the Government’s investment programme Transport 21. It will deliver a first class road that will be a major component of the Dublin - Galway motorway. It is a key part of the Government’s programme to upgrade the overall roads network for the country. It will significantly benefit the Western region and it will improve road transport connections between the West and the East of the country.”  

The project will extend from Doughiska, east of Galway city to the existing N6 east of Ballinasloe. It will run from the outskirts of Galway city to Athenry, where it crosses the Galway/Dublin rail line, the Graigabbey river and the Athenry/Limerick rail line. It then continues southeast to the Carrowkeel junction, Kiltulla; continuing north of Aughrim village and on to Tulrush, east of Ballinasloe, where a link road connects the existing N6 at Beagh in County Roscommon.  

There will be five grade-separated junctions on the route - at Glennascual, Athenry, Carrowkeel, West Ballinasloe and East Ballinasloe. There will also be 9 roundabouts on link roads, 1 major river crossing, 3 rail crossings, 30 road bridges and a footbridge. There will also be accommodation structures for landowners, side roads and culverts. 

Minister Treacy continued: “The N6 Galway to Ballinasloe road project, when complete, will bring many national and regional benefits. It will remove a significant volume of through traffic from the towns and villages on the route, including Athenry, Craughwell, Loughrea, Kilreekil, Aughrim and Ballinasloe. It will reduce journey times and create better competitiveness and it will significantly improve accessibility, between Dublin and the West. I know that this development will be of significant benefit in terms of jobs and economic growth at local level and in the West.”  

Under the National Development Plan, the Crusheen to Gort and the Gort to Oranmore road schemes are being accelerated to commence next year. Together, these two schemes will provide some 50 kms of high quality dual carriageway. They will connect directly to the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe project.  

Commenting on the project, the Chairman of the National Roads Authority, Mr. Peter Malone said: “This is another major step forward in bringing both the Galway and the Dublin regions closer together, via a safe modern roadway. It will allow for significant economic growth in tourism and general industry alike, through the entire BMW (Border Midland Western) region”. 

ENDS