Cullen opens €120m Ennis bypass

Another of the country's traffic bottlenecks was cleared today as the new Ennis bypass in Co Clare opened three months ahead …

Another of the country's traffic bottlenecks was cleared today as the new Ennis bypass in Co Clare opened three months ahead of schedule.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen this morning opened the €120 million Ennis Bypass, which is expected to remove over 20,000 vehicles from the streets of the Clare town every day. This is expected to rise to 35,000 as traffic volumes increase over the next 20 years.

The 14-kilomtere stretch of the N18 is part of the Atlantic Corridor linking Letterkenny, Co Donegal and Waterford along the western and southern coast of the country.

When work began on the bypass in April 2004 it had been expected to take three years to complete.

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It is the first of nine major projects promised for completion by the end of this year. The Government has pledged to spend €1.53 this year as part of its Transport 21investment programme for transport.

"This Government is committed to progressing projects that will enhance the quality of life for people and underpin our prosperity," the Minister said.