This article is from page 20 of the 2008-11-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
CONSTRUCTION on the next phase of the Atlantic Corridor from Gort to Oranmore will commence in 2010, according to ‘Transport Miu£nister Noel Dempsey.
The scheme was one of six projects deferred due to budget cutbacks but at a sod turning ceremony on the construction site of the Gort/Crush-
een bypass on Friday, Minister Dem- pey said it would be the only road project to start in 2009.
“That wasn’t an accident. This sec- tion of the Atlantic Corridor was deliberately chosen to give a very clear signal from Government that the commitment that we have made to balanced regional development, to the west of Ireland despite the eco- nomic downturn, remains very, very
strong.”
Minister Dempsey said that the scheme marks “a very, very signifi- cant next step in the provision of the Atlantic Corridor”’.
“Inevitably, you can’t do everything at the one time. It is hoped that in 2010 will see all of the inter urban motorways will be completed and at that stage, there will be more money available and it 1s anticipated that the
Six Or seven projects which have been postponed and are not going ahead in 2009 will all start in 2010.”
He said that the Gort/Crusheen sec- tion of the the corridor would elimi- nate one of the worst bottlenecks _NCOyercam ON eloma UN E-NNLBCemere UNTO CO)E
“This project emphasises the im- portance of investing in the road infrastructure so that business and regional economic hubs such as Lim-
erick, Shannon and Galway can com- pete in this ever demanding national and global environment.
“The key benefits will be three fold, a safer road, direct regional eco- nomic 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,” Minister Dempsey concluded.