Minister Kelly Announces Funding of €500,000 for Ballina-Killaloe Shannon Bridge

Issued : Wednesday 18 January, 2012
Areas : Ballina, Killaloe

Local Minister Alan Kelly has announced funding of €500,000 for the Ballina - Killaloe Bridge Scheme.

“Following intensive discussion, I wish to announce that €500,000 is being provided my own Department of Transport for funding for the Ballina-Killloe Bridge. This will to progress this much needed project, through planning to CPO status. This is great news for the area and the start of what will hopefully dramatically overhaul the local transport infrastructure and negate the regular traffic chaos in the area”.

 

“I have been pushing for this project within the Department for quite a while and I am delighted to see it progressing. As a local resident, I am passionate about this project and I have worked hard to make sure that it was brought to the top of the political agenda: there was still a job to do to secure this funding in the future from the Department of Transport”.

 

“The existing road infrastructure around the area is quite poor and it is estimated that this project could deliver a massive boost of over €60M to the local economy between construction and the savings on journey times. The project could cost a total of €41 Million, with €16M for the upgrade of the local road R494 and €12M for the bridge and the balance on the bypass and proposals” stated the Minister.

 

“This level of funding shows the serious commitment that I and the Government have to improving tourism infrastructure in this area and to delivering a jobs boost through smart infrastructure programmes such as this”

 

The Minister concluded: “Whilst the project may still need to be approached on a phased basis in the future, this project has the added benefit of the capacity to be built in stages so I am confident I can secure extra future funding”.

 

Ends