DIRECTROUTE (TUAM) LTD N17/N18 GORT TO TUAM PROJECT OFFICE CARTYMORE ATHENRY

DirectRoute (Tuam) Ltd Newsletter N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme Q 2

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N17/N18 Project Update Welcome to our Q2 2017 Newsletter. Since our Q1 newsletter we continue to make good progress on the project and we are on course for achieving our completion target. We remain confident that the motorway and the Tuam bypass will be open to traffic before the end of 2017. There are over 550 people currently working on the Project and in excess of 3.20m working hours have been clocked up to the end of March. In this newsletter we take a brief look at one of the notable ecological features on the Project, colloquially known as the ‘Bat Bridge’ and also highlight the part played by the Galway County Council liaison team in bringing this marvellous scheme to fruition. The bat bridge, which forms a dual function of being an accommodation overbridge, is located at Coole Green which is a short distance north of the tie-in to the existing M18 at Gort. It is a ‘green’ bridge that incorporates specific landscaping features along with its shaped profile that will maintain a flight corridor for bats as they commute from their roosts to their feeding grounds. The immediate area is populated with a colony of lesser horseshoe bats. Bats are protected species under habitat directives and protection measures such as the green bridge were all considered at the planning stage of the scheme. Other measures included advanced planting of trees and hedgerows early in the project to allow additional growth periods before the route opens and provide better flight corridors. We also installed temporary fencing during construction to mimic original flight corridors across the extent of the road. Other measures to protect wildlife along the route includes mammal underpasses, mammal shelves in river bridges and culverts and specialist fencing.

Bat Bridge, Coole Green 1

The work on the project continues to progress well in all areas. Bulk earthworks, drainage works and all of the principal structures along the project route are essentially complete. Pavement works form a considerable proportion of the works that have to be completed. These works are well underway throughout the scheme and a high percentage of all layers up to wearing course have been completed to date. Laying of wearing course has commenced on the Tuam Bypass and will follow across the project over the coming weeks. Sign gantry bases are well underway also. During the winter and early spring landscaping works have been progressed to the extent possible. We have made maximum use of the root ball planting window which nominally expires at the end of March as ambient temperatures increase. Approximately 95% of all landscaping has been carried out with the remainder to take place prior to the road opening. All planting and grass seeding is of native species and areas of species rich soil have been retained and are being re-spread as topsoil to encourage the species to regrow in the same areas. Galway County Council Galway County Council (GCC) have played a key and vital role in the project to date. They have led and managed the statutory processes for the three sections of the project. Following on from the planning and land procurement process and since construction on the scheme started in January 2015, Galway County Council has had a three person liaison team working full time on the scheme, dealing specifically with landowner concerns and promoting good communication and problem solving approach with the PPP Company’s project team. GCC have looked at ways to reduce community severance such as the provision of footpaths and cycleways and associated public lighting particularly around the urban areas close to Tuam and also by the provision of pedestrian bridges at Annagh Hill and at the existing N17 at Tuam. The liaison team have also put considerable effort into dealing with community groups – listening to their concerns and discussing with the project team how these concerns can be met while delivering the scheme in a safe and efficient manner. The DirectRoute project team have been very positive in this regard and throughout the three year construction programme, the emphasis has been on problem solving and teamwork which has worked to everyone’s benefit. The 24 hour project helpline has been very useful in logging calls and determining what actions are appropriate in resolving any difficulties. As the scheme is in its final year of construction much of the project is nearing substantial completion. Road users, when travelling over many of the new overbridges can see kilometres of newly laid macadam stretching away to the horizon. The project team is confident that the scheme will meet all its target dates and will open on time. As well as being a road infrastructure project, Galway County Council are confident that the motorway will also form the backbone for an economic corridor, where industries in the West of Ireland will benefit from better and reliable access to international airports at Shannon and Knock and also better linkage with the national road network throughout Ireland.

Annagh Hill Footbridge 2

THREE MONTH LOOK AHEAD The main works to be undertaken in the next three months are described in the table below.

Site Location

Operation

Plant & Equipment

Entire Project

Main Earthworks—The cut & fill works across the project are almost complete. Rock blasting is compete in all areas except for a small amount to be extracted at Tobernavean. Side Road construction will continue.

Heavy construction plant, trucks, jeeps, drilling & explosive equipment

Entire Project

Utility Diversions are 95% complete —Utilities continue to be diverted as & where required ahead of major construction works.

Construction plant, jeeps

Entire Project

Drainage– Final works to complete the construction of mainline drainage networks shall continue across the project.

Construction plant, trucks, jeeps

Entire Project

Accommodation Works—Installation of or adjustment to private Construction plant, jeeps gates, entrances, boundaries or other features belonging to private individuals which are affected by the construction of the new road.

Various Locations Across the Project

Structures— Finishing works to structures and erection of gantries.

Construction plant, trucks, jeeps, cranes, concrete trucks & pumps

Entire Project

Landscaping—In sections where earthworks are substantially complete topsoil is being placed and planting and grass seeding are well underway.

Heavy construction plant, trucks, jeeps

Entire Project

Safety and Environmental Barriers - Installation shall continue in Heavy construction plant, trucks, all areas. jeeps

Entire Project

Pavement—Installation of line markings and road studs will follow the completion of the wearing course.

Heavy construction plant, trucks, jeeps

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT While the public traffic interface with the project is greatly reduced there are a limited number of local road diversions to be completed. During Q1 some additional side roads have been opened to traffic on their new alignments. These include the new alignments at the R-446 Old Dublin Road, R-347 Owenbristy, L-4506 Parkatleve, L-8591 Raheen Kilkelly and R-332 Ballygaddy Road. Some of these roads may remain under temporary traffic management for a further period while certain works including final tie-in arrangements are completed. Q2 2017 will see the remaining local roads being opened up on their permanent alignments including at L-4516 Ballymaquiff, L-85312 Coole Demesne and L-8581 Parknacappul. On the Tuam Bypass, works continue on the existing N17 in the vicinity of the new Burke Road roundabout and Kilmore roundabout. Traffic management signage to alert public road users has been and will continue to be erected throughout the scheme where construction works interact with the existing road network and these arrangements can also be seen on the DirectRoute website including details of diversion routes where such are required. There are also details of the night-time lane closures required on the M6 motorway on Thursday 20 th and Friday 21st April to allow safe erection of gantries and signage. Traffic is now using the permanent alignment of the N18 at Kiltiernan under restricted temporary traffic management. Traffic lights will be used on a part time basis as required for completion of the works. The use of traffic lights will be restricted to between 09.30 and 16.00 hours. There is a reduced speed limit of 60kph in force for a 1 km length on both approaches to the new Kiltiernan junction on the N18 for the duration of the completion of the works. In all cases we request that you observe local signage and that motorists be vigilant, familiarise themselves with the new layouts and obey all reduced speed limits at these locations to ensure the safety of all. 3

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DirectRoute recently made a donation to Galway Hospice Foundation, arising from the Health and Safety incentive scheme run on the M17/18 motorway project. Galway Hospice Foundation provides a wide range of fully-accredited specialist Palliative Care Services to adults & children with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, as well as providing support to their families and carers. These services which include Home Care, Inpatient Care, Day Care, Bereavement Support and Education, are delivered across Galway City and County and the adjoining islands. Galway Hospice has become ever reliant on voluntary donations in the current economic environment. Although the HSE has increased its level of funding for Galway Hospice, they are still required to raise €1.8 million per annum to meet the cost of providing essential patient services.

L-R: Ciaran Blake (Sisk), Padraig Scanlon (Sisk), Orla Feeney (Galway Hospice), Nadine Monaghan (DirectRoute)

Before the road opens to traffic, we are planning to host a leisure charity cycle event which will provide a unique opportunity for cyclists to travel on the route before the road is opened to vehicular traffic in its ordinary usage. Please keep an eye on our website and local media for further details in due course.

SAFETY NOTICE DirectRoute really appreciate the ongoing co-operation being shown by our neighbours and the general public in helping to ensure that the project is constructed as safely as possible for everyone. Construction activity by its very nature exposes people to a higher level of risk than many other activities and construction sites are relatively dangerous places. It is important that we all continue to be vigilant. We have asked people in previous newsletters to keep clear of the construction site and we have particularly asked parents and guardians to help ensure their children understand the importance of and comply with this. As the works progress and as sections of the project near completion, it is easy to assume that the dangers are passed. We are starting to see people using the new motorway route as a walking route. There are however many hazards and bits of incomplete work remaining which mean that these areas are not safe and we would ask that you continue to stay away from the construction site. We also ask that you continue to exercise extreme caution when travelling on the public road where it interfaces with any roadworks.

24 Hour Emergency Phone: 091-777000

Project Contact Details Email: [email protected]

Web: www.directroutegorttotuam.ie

We continue to update our website with relevant project information & are adding overhead photographs on a monthly basis to demonstrate the ongoing progress of the works. Please check the website regularly for these updates . 4