National planning body An Bord Pleanála has approved the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and R494 Improvement Scheme.

The next stage of the process will be to appoint consultants to deal with further detailed design requirements, the tendering of the scheme and all subsequent stages through to the final construction.

The estimated cost of the project is US$51 million. It involves a 2km bypass of Killaloe, a 170m bridge crossing of the River Shannon, and an upgrade of approximately 3.3km of the existing R494 regional road in Ballina.