The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, warned that unless the go-ahead is given for a fifth bridge across the River Corrib, Galway will reach gridlock within three years.
Opposition to the proposal continues to grow. Mr Fahey said he had no doubt the majority view in Galway was that the bridge should go ahead and he called on the silent majority to make their views known.
He was responding to a call for a Galway Transport Initiative (GTI) to explore alternative options to easing traffic, which was made at a meeting organised by the Hands Across the Corrib Group last week.
Mr Niall O Brolchain of Galway Environmental Alliance proposed a GTI be set up by Galway Corporation and Galway County Council along the same lines as the Dublin Transport Initiative.
Mr O Brolchain believed there was a hidden agenda behind the by-pass to develop cheap land on the west side of the city whereas the sensible view would be to develop the east of the city where there was already access to the Dublin Road.
Mr Seamas Cahalan, of Hands Across the Corrib, which represents residents on both sides of the river, said opposition to the proposed N6 by-pass was huge and he called on the local authorities to look at environmentally friendly ways of solving the city's traffic problem.
Mr Cahalan criticised the poor consultation and lack of clarity in relation to the project which could cost up to £300 million.
The construction of the project is due to begin in 2003 and reach completion in 2006.
Mr Fahey said: "We will need Galway Corporation and County Council to be prepared to give the go-ahead for the project and I am saying to them that it is imperative they do that, otherwise the bridge will be put back to 2020.
"It would absolutely choke the city of Galway if the bridge project does not go ahead within the time-scale outlined," he said.
