New N17 Collooney-Knock route must be motorway

A SINGLE carriageway N17 route between Knock and Collooney is of no use to the development of the west.

That was the message from local councillors when they were updated on plans for the new road, for which possible route options have been short-listed.

However, they were told that at the moment traffic levels did not warrant the road being a motorway.

The deadline for submissions on the short-listed options is October 15 and it is expected to have a preferred option published next March or April, Fergus Meehan, senior engineer, told members at a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting. The project could then move towards seeking planning approval in 2024.

Charlestown-based Councillor Gerry Murray said the objective was to create counter-balance to the massive development on the east coast and lack of development in the west.

The Atlantic Economic Corridor would deliver something that has never been delivered before - balanced regional development.

If they were serious about addressing that imbalance we had to have the same standard of infrastructure as is enjoyed on the east coast. The expectation was that the road would be the same high standard as that between Tuam and Gort.

The feedback he was getting from activists was that a motorway is essential. And if it cannot be delivered in one swoop they would rather it be rolled out on a phased basis, instead of it being a substandard road.

The fear is that it will be a single carriageway, he said, pointing out that it is essential for the project to be 'future proofed', state of the art, and on a par with what is on the east coast.

Councillor Richard Finn agreed a single carriageway is of 'no future use to us in the west'. What was important was the economic advantages the route would bring.

Mr. Meehan said the road type is not set down at this stage. However, traffic figures at the moment are not high enough for a motorway.