The N17 national primary road is a vital regional link, providing connectivity between Galway City and Sligo Regional Centre, and servicing Ireland West Airport Knock.

It is a key transport component of the Atlantic Economic Corridor, a government initiative to encourage investment in the west of Ireland.

On a national scale the N17 forms part of the transport network connecting the cities along the western seaboard, Cork-Limerick-Galway-Derry. The N17 Knock to Collooney project is listed in the National Development Plan (2021-2030).

Sligo and Mayo County Councils are working in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to develop a transport scheme to improve regional accessibility to the northwest of Ireland and to provide a safe and efficient transport network between Knock and Collooney. The project will provide bypasses of Ballinacarrow, Achonry, Tobercurry, Charlestown and Bellaghy, removing heavy goods vehicles and strategic

traffic from the urban areas, creating an environment where Active Travel is prioritised. The project is currently at Phase 3: Design and Environmental Evaluation. The purpose of Phase 3 is to develop the design of the Preferred Option to a stage where sufficient levels of detail are developed to establish land requirements and to evaluate the potential environmental impact of the scheme.