Report suggests Gort to Tuam M17 will be ‘ghost’ motorway

Galway Bay fm newsroom – A study on future traffic projections forecasts that the long awaited Gort to Tuam motorway will be a ‘ghost-motorway’.
The survey compiled by the Irish Times concludes that in 15 years, the roadway will be operating at less than a quarter of its capacity.
The first sod was officially turned in May on the 57 kilometre M17-M18 motorway with the project expected to create 450 construction jobs.
It’s due to open to traffic in 2018 and is expected to ease congestion by bypassing Tuam, Ardrahan, Claregalway, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge and Gort.
The National Roads Authority has told the Irish Times that the southern section of the route would carry over 8 thousand vehicles per day, while the northern section, would carry over 7,200.
By 2030, the average annual daily traffic flow is predicted to be over 10,100 vehicles on the southern section and over 9,400 on the northern section.
The design capacity of a four-lane motorway is 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles a day.
Therefore the study forecasts that , in 15 years times, the structure would be operating at less than a quarter of its capacity.