The first sod has been turned on the construction of the N59 Moycullen Bypass, which has been long awaited by motorists.
The 4.3km bypass road is expected to take two years to build, with plans for it to open to traffic in 2023.
The €35 million project was granted planning permission in 2012, but the contract for construction wasn’t signed until last December.
The work will be carried out by Mayo based contractors Wills Brothers.
Present at the sod-turning ceremony last week were Galway TD Hildegarde Naughton, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Cllr Peter Keaveney, and Peter Walsh from Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
Also there were other elected members of the County Council and Seanad Eireann, senior management from TII, and Wills Brothers.
When completed the bypass will loop around the eastern side of the village, connecting with the existing N59 at two new roundabout junctions at each end.
Along with the 4.3km of new carriageway, improvements will also have to made to 3km of local roads, 1.7 km of accommodation roads and 10 structures.
