HISTORY will be made this afternoon when the first of the State’s new inter-urban motorways, the 194km M4/M6 route from Dublin to Galway, is completed with the official opening of the final section.
The route, first announced by then taoiseach Bertie Ahern in December 1999, has been completed six months ahead of contract deadline. It was partially opened last month to provide an alternate route around floods in the Ballinasloe area.
The development of the M4/M6 brings Dublin’s M50 within two hours of the outskirts of Galway city, when travelling at 100km/h.
The final €427 million motorway section, which runs 56km from Ballinasloe to Galway, is a toll road. A toll plaza close to Cappataggle village will charge €1.90 for cars. This is the second toll on the Dublin to Galway route after the M4 toll at Enfield. The total cost for a car on the Dublin to Galway stretch will be €4.80.
Motorways between Dublin and Limerick, Cork and Waterford featuring two tolls each are scheduled to open next year.
The chairman of the National Roads Authority, Peter Malone, said the opening was a historic event “not only for the cities, towns and villages along the route, but for the entire country.
“This opening completes the Galway to Dublin motorway/dual carriageway envisioned as part of this Government’s plan to invest and improve road infrastructure under Transport 21.
“Just think, you will be able to travel from Dublin’s M50 to Galway city within 2 hours and 15 minutes approximately. That is fantastic for business, tourism and all roads users.”
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