Approval has been granted for a long awaited major transport project in Roscommon.
Cabinet today approved the 450 million euro N5 Ballaghderreen to Scramoge Road Project, with the plans now expected to move to construction phase.
The project was delayed last year after the company selected to progress it, Roadbridge, went into receivership.
Works will include the construction of approximately 34km of new road from the western end of the existing N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass to Scramoge.
The project will see Frenchpark, Ballinagare, Tulsk and Strokestown bypassed, with local politicians and members of the public raising safety concerns over the existing route in the last number of years.
The cost of the project has increased substantially, with the Department of Transport attributing the increase to inflationary pressures along with the rising costs of construction materials, shipping and logistic costs.
Roscommon based Senator Eugene Murphy is hopeful that works can now be prioritised following the delays to the project:
