The new route for a bridge across the Shannon at Ballina in Co Tipperary and Killaloe, Co Clare, has been chosen following a lengthy public consultation.
The new bridge will be a mile south of the existing and inadequate crossing, and will relieve traffic congestion.
Clare County Council is developing the Shannon Bridge Crossing Project in association with North Tipperary County Council and Limerick County Council. Consultants RPS Consulting Engineers and traffic sub-consultants Colin Buchanan and Partners were appointed to undertake a feasibility study and preliminary design for the bridge project.
This study comprises three phases; constraints study, route selection and preliminary design. The constraints study report was published last May.
Eight route options were considered, and the route-selection phase ended with the publication of the route-selection report.
The selection of the route was based on economic, traffic and environmental issues.
Local Labour councillor Sean Creamer gave a guarded welcome to the news of the route selection.
He said it was evident that the route selected was one that had been favoured for some time by the consultant engineers.
"It seemed from the consultation process that the consultants and the engineering staff on Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary councils were coming down in favour of this route from early on.
"This will have a major impact on the people living in the local area, and they will have to have to be further consultations with the local people.
"It's only the start of the process really," he said.