Minister hopes to turn sod on Gort to Tuam road project by year end

That's according to Transport Minister Leo Varadkar who said he was confident the project would reach financial close by the end of 2013.

His comments follow the issuing of a letter of guarantee by cabinet last week in a bid to engage with overseas banks to assess interest in funding the project.

The government already made a committment of 20 million euro to the private public partnership project earlier this year.

Speaking at the opening of Oranmore Train Station this year, Minister Varadkar said he hopes to be in a position to return to Galway by year end to turn the first sod on the project.