“The inclusion of the N69 upgrade and the Adare By-Pass projects in the €6billion  roads programme of the national ‘Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021’ is a welcome development albeit both are subject to planning permission,” said Shannon Chamber’s chief executive Helen Downes commenting on this recent announcement by Government.

Calling on the National Roads Authority to now prioritise this project through the planning process, Ms Downes added: “The essentiality of this critical piece of road infrastructure should not be judged solely on the direct benefits it will deliver to Shannon Foynes Port but on the linkage it will provide to the main M7/M20 motorway network and their onward connectivity to the M18 onto Galway.

“Its beneficiaries  will extend well beyond the immediate catchment area to the greater Shannon region, Shannon Airport and be most welcomed by existing and newly establishing industry along the western seaboard, and of course, tourists travelling our main national routes.

“This project has already received a wealth of policy support from EU TEN-T, 2013 Ports Policy, Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) and County Development Plans (CDPs), the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary (SIFP) and Vision 2041. Shannon Chamber strongly supports its prioritisation as an essential piece of regional road infrastructure and looks forward to seeing a works programme commence in 2016.”