Cllr defends plan for Gort to Tuam motorway

Galway Bay fm newsroom - Oranmore/Athenry Cllr Frank Kearney has hit out at forecasts that the long-awaited Gort to Tuam road expansion could become a ‘ghost' motorway. The survey of anticipated traffic volumes recently compiled by the Irish Times concludes that in 15 years, the M17/M18 roadway will be operating at less than a quarter of its capacity. The motorway is due to open to traffic in 2018 and is expected to ease congestion by bypassing Tuam, Ardrahan, Claregalway, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge and Gort. Cllr Kearney says local commuters and motorists traveling from Donegal to Kerry have had to suffer hours of tailbacks in each of these towns. He argues the project is not a waste of taxpayers' money and it's high time that the west received proper infrastructure.