The much delayed Gort to Tuam motorway and the controversial Galway City Outer Bypass have both survived the savage infrastructural cuts to be announced by the Government today – and there is an expectation that the contractors for the Tuam project will be announced in a matter of weeks.

The Connacht Tribune has learned that the National Roads Authority are close to appointing a contractor for the project but it is not likely to begin until early 2013 with a completion date in 2016, while Fine Gael backbencher Brian Walsh last night expressed confidence that the Outer Bypass would also survive the big cull.

“I have a path worn to the offices of the Minister for Transport and An Taoiseach in relation to this project over the past few months and, on the basis of our discussions, I am highly confident that the Bypass will make the cut in terms of being included in the plan,” he said.

“The current traffic congestion crisis that has unfolded in recent months has served to highlight the importance of this project to Galway, and the Outer Bypass remains the only credible and comprehensive solution to that crisis.”

The 57 kilometre M17/M18 motorway project which also includes the Tuam bypass is costing around €500 million and this includes the acquisition of lands along the route – some €140 million has already been spent on this project already by the State.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed that the motorway has survived the major cull of roads and rail projects and will be constructed on a public private partnership basis.

See full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.