The Galway County Council has been sanctioned to go to tender for the construction of the Moycullen Bypass. The local authority has invited five shortlisted companies to tender for the project which has an approximate cost of €50 million.
Part of Project Ireland 2040, the bypass will involve the construction of a new carriageway from the townland of Drimcong, north-west of the village, to the townland of Clydagh, south-east of the village. The business case for the bypass has been agreed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Transport. Work is expected to start early in the New Year.
The development has been welcomed by Fine Gael Senator Seán Kyne, who said the approval of the business case and the issuing of invitations were "major milestones in this significant project".
He said the bypass will remove bottlenecks, increase capacity, reduce journey times, and improve access to Connemara on the N59 Galway to Clifden road.
According to research carried out by the county council, more than 13,000 vehicles, including 450 heavy goods vehicles, pass through Moycullen every day. "The bypass will remove many of these vehicles," said Sen Kyne, "and will enable public realm improvements and make the village safer for all, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.”