Construction work on the €209 million Gort-Crusheen bypass moved a step nearer yesterday with Bord Pleanála confirming a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the scheme.
The planning board also confirmed an environmental impact statement for the project.
However, the confirmation of the CPO does not include the provision of a second access road into Gort, which has been sought by local groups.
The leading agency in the scheme, Galway County Council, will now take the next steps to compulsorily acquire almost 500 acres contained in 103 farms along the 22km route.
The council has already initiated the tendering process.
The scheme also involves the severance of 845 acres of farmland.
At the outset, 75 objections were lodged against the proposal.
However, on the first day of the oral hearing last July, only 10 objections against the CPO remained.
In its decision, Bord Pleanála said that the construction of the route would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
It would not result in significant adverse effects on the environment, taking into account the likely effects on the environment of the proposed road development, the report of the board inspector and having regard to the council.
The overall cost of the scheme is €209 million, with construction costs put at €156 million
A spokesman for the National Roads Authority (NRA) said yesterday that construction was due to begin by the middle of next year.
He said that the construction phase would last between 2½ and three years.
On the need for a second access junction into the Gort road, the board inspector said: "The current proposal provides for only one access to Gort, at Ballinger's corner on the north-east of the town.
"The submission by Gort Regional Alliance for Community and Environment related to the need for a second, limited-type access at the point at which the proposed route crosses the Gort-Tubber road.
"It is considered that the capacity of the junction, as proposed, taken with the intention to build a complete grade-separated junction at Ballinger's corner with a future extension of the scheme, is adequate for the current and projected traffic volumes."
Much of the planned road passes through a karst landscape, and disruption of underground water courses could impact negatively on habitats such as turloughs.
The route will pass within 300m and 3km of nine designated Special Areas of Conservation or national heritage areas .
The hearing was told that none of the sites identified as having conservation value would suffer a major hydrological impact as a result of the construction of the road.
