GRIDLOCK
Bypass closure forces extra 20,000 vehicles through Tuam
MOTORISTS have faced huge backlogs in traffic and long delays through Tuam this week as a result of the closure of the town’s bypass.
More than 20,000 vehicles a day use the busy route which links from the N17 to the N83 Galway Road and the M17-M18 motorway.
Traffic was backed-up for nearly two kilometres along the motorway coming into Tuam on Monday evening. It was a similar situation for those who travelled on the Galway road (N83), with the jam starting as far back as the turn to Belclare. The bypass has been completely closed to traffic since Sunday night and the re-surfacing works aren’t due to be completed until Friday.
However, local representatives have been pressing for the need to re-open the route as soon as possible.
The works are being carried out on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), which is responsible for the maintenance of the route, and not Galway County Council.
However, the local authority has found itself having to deal with the complaints from frustrated residents and commuters who have faced delays of between 30-50 minutes over the past two days...
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