Major funding boost confirmed for new Shannon crossing and bypass of Clare town

Nearly €40 million in funding has been allocated for regional and local roads projects in Clare over the course of 2025.

The funding, announced by the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien this Friday morning, includes €13.39m for the Shannon Crossing and Killaloe Bypass project in Killaloe and Ballina, which is considered to be a strategic project within the National Development Plan

The Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and R494 Improvement Scheme will provide a western bypass of Killaloe, a new bridge crossing of the River Shannon and an upgrade of the existing R494 regional road from Ballina to the N7 at Bridhill.

The entire scheme is approximately 6.2km and will cross the River Shannon approximately 1km to the south of the existing Killaloe Bridge and will cross the Kilmastulla River on the R494. 

A number of significant milestones have already been reached and works on the Killaloe Bypass section of the project began in mid-December.

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Of the funding announced this Friday, €14,259,500 has been allocated for 'Restoration Improvement' works in Clare while €1,790,500 has  been allocated for 'Restoration Maintenance' projects across the country.

Some of the specific projects that have received funding include:

Ogonnelloe Traffic Calming Scheme: €220,000

Rehabilitation works at the R458 (formerly the N18): €500,000

Rehabilitation works at Shragh Bridge: €150,000

Signing, lining & pedestrian facilities at Phayers Road, Meelick: €130,000

Safety improvement works at Cronan Junction Shannon: €80,000

Safety improvement works at Lissane Junction, Claremount, Clarecastle: €70,000

Rehabilitation works at Derryfadda Bridge: €50,000

Nationally, an investment programme of €713 million for regional and local roads has been announced - representing an overall increase of over 8% in funding this year for road and safety improvements across the country.

Announcing the funding, which will be delivered locally by Clare County Council, Minister O’Brien, pictured above with Minister of State Jerry Buttimer and Minister of State Seán Canney, said: “My main priority is the ongoing maintenance and renewal of the regional and local road network, alongside strategic investment in developing and improving the road infrastructure network.

“Rehabilitation and maintenance is fundamental to keeping the network in a good condition, and a significant increase in funding has been provided for in 2025, with most of the funding going towards restoration of the network. This is essential for maintaining social and economic connectivity, linking people and places across the country.”

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“In addition to maintaining our current road network, we are developing and upgrading this infrastructure through investing €70 million in vital strategic projects which are continuing to be progressed. These include those identified for development under the National Development Plan such as the Shannon Crossing and Killaloe Bypass project in Killaloe and Ballina, and the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road in Limerick City.”