Cabinet approves business case for Galway City outer by-pass

The cabinet this morning approved a business case for a Galway City outer by-pass.
Minister Shane Ross presented a business case for the by-pass to this morning’s cabinet meeting and I have now been informed by the Taoiseach’s office that the cabinet approved the business case and the matter will now go forward for planning.
Today’s cabinet decision is a step towards bringing this important project to reality. It will now go to An Bord Pleanála and if approved, will proceed to construction stage. The creation of an outer by-pass for the city has been discussed for many years and has been highlighted as being necessary to alleviate traffic congestion around the city.
The creation of this by-pass will facilitate thousands of workers from Galway east in terms of reducing commute time, it will also improve access to University Hospital Galway and NUIG and will alleviate traffic congestion at various pinch points in the city.
The new by-pass will see the N6 Galway Dublin route extended from Doughiska on the western fringes of the city to Barna on the eastern side of the city. Design on the project is now complete in terms of route choice, but permission has now to be sought from An Bord Pleanála to build the new road. Funding for the road is included in the National Development Plan.
Today’s decision is an important milestone for the development of Galway City, Galway County and the entire western region.