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Ireland West Airport welcomes official opening of M17 motorway from Gort to Tuam

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September 2017) Ireland West Airport welcomes todays official opening of the new M17 motorway from Tuam to Gort providing improved access and shorter journey times between Galway and the airport.

The motorway begins at the northern end of the N18 Crusheen to Gort road which opened to traffic in November 2010. The route will be of motorway standard from Gort to the junction at Kilmore, just south of Tuam - a distance of 53.2km. 

The new motorway will provide a significant boost for the airport as it brings the Galway market even closer to the airport cutting in the region of potentially 15 -20 minutes off the journey time between Galway City in particular and the airport.

In 2016 over 70,000 Galway residents flew from the airport availing of the 24 International destinations now available. In addition close to 100,000 overseas visitors visit the Galway region annually as part of the their trip to the West after flying into Ireland West Airport, providing an economic boost of over €30m annually to the Galway region.

Commenting on the opening of the new motorway, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport, said ‘We are delighted to welcome the opening of the new M17 Tuam to Gort motorway. Not only will the completion of the motorway improve the transport infrastructure along the Western corridor but the shorter journey time will make our airport even more convenient for the people of Galway providing even easier access to our network of 24 international destinations, including the biggest selection of UK services available from the West of Ireland’.