The Minister for Public Expenditure has approved funding to progress the upgrade to the N5 from Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue to the construction stage.
The project comprises of 34km of new single carriageway bypassing the towns and villages of Frenchpark, Bellanagare, Tulsk and Strokestown.
Enabling works have been underway including archaeological assessments, ground investigation and fencing and hedgerow removal.
The acquisition of lands and properties for the scheme is also being progressed by Roscommon County Council and it's understood the contractor has been selected for the project.
Senator Eugene Murphy says Minister Michael McGrath is keen to see it move through the Department of Transport and get approval from cabinet: