Introduction

The N6 Loughrea bypass was officially opened by Mr. Martin Cullen T.D., Minister for Transport on the 25 th November 2005 .

The completion of the 3.75 km bypass of the town of Loughrea was within budget and ahead of schedule will now provide high speed uninterrupted travel past what had become in recent years,  a major bottleneck.

Now with noise levels and air pollution in Loughrea being reduced the town will benefit socially, commercially and environmentally from the elimination of through traffic.

History

In April 2003, Galway County Council placed the N6 Loughrea Bypass Scheme on public display. This public display was a component of the N6 Loughrea Bypass scheme Part 8 application. The scheme at this juncture incorporated a Bypass to the north of Loughrea town and a link road connecting to the existing N66 Gort road. In early June 2003, Galway County Council approved the Part 8 application for this scheme with some minor alterations.These alterations were incorporated into the design.

Galway County Council published the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on 31st October 2003 and the closing date for the receipt of objections to An Board Pleanala was 12th December 2003.

An oral hearing was scheduled by An Board Pleanala for Tuesday January 27th ,2004 at the Meadow Court Hotel , Loughrea. Four Landowners along the scheme voiced their concerns at the hearing. Having considered all the objections, the inspector Mr.Jim Harney called a close to the proceedings on Wednesday January 28 th ,2004 . Mr. Harney considered the evidence over the follwing months and returned to An Board Pleanala with a recommendation regarding the scheme.”

“On 21st April An Bord Pleanála confirmed the Compulsory Purchase Order for the N6 Loughrea Bypass. An Bord Pleanála's decision may be seen at the followinglink; http://www.pleanala.ie/ORD/CH2/DCH2098.DOC

Galway County Council published a Notice of Confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Order for the N6 Loughrea Bypass in the Connacht Tribune of 14th May 2004. Notice of Confirmation (1MB PDF).