A Fianna Fail TD has called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to ensure that funding is made available for upgrade works on the R332 Kilmaine to Tuam Road.

Galway West TD Eamon O Cuiv says Mayo County Council’s roads design section has been tasked with drawing up plans for the upgrade of the road.

Deputy O Cuiv says the opening of the Tuam to Athenry motorway will see Tuam linked to the M6 and the M17, and will provide a full motorway from Tuam to Galway, Dublin and Limerick.

The route connecting Galway with Sligo and the northwest is known as the N17 and It currently starts in the dead centre of Galway city at the intersection of Tuam Road and what is currently referred to as the N6 Inner Galway Bypass.

By end-2017, it will have been replaced with a motorway to the east, originating in the mega interchange of the M6, M18 and M17, west of Athenry, and terminating west of the town of Tuam.

Construction of this section of motorway started on January 15, 2015.

Deputy O Cuiv says it is essential that these upgrade works are carried out to ensure that the road can cope with the amount of traffic that is expected.