MINISTER SAYS NEW FUNDING PACKAGE FOR ROADS DELIVERING MONTHLY INVESTMENT OF €150m
The Minister for Transport, Séamus Brennan T.D., today (Thursday, 9th September 2004) signalled the start of construction of the final phase of the Cavan Town By-Pass when he formally turned the sod on the project.
The completion of the second phase of the project will deliver in total a 12.3 km By-Pass of Cavan town, costing almost €32 million, that will relieve serious congestion by carrying traffic volumes of more than 6,000 vehicles per day. It will also improve safety for all road users as the section of road being by-passed has a history of accidents.
Minister Brennan said that the recently agreed five year multi annual funding package for roads is resulting in up to €150 million a month being invested in rolling out a 21st century motorway and high quality roads network for Ireland. The five-year investment programme was an historic agreement and was arguably the most significant development to date in the delivery for Ireland of a motorway network of world class standard that within years would transform the infrastructure map of the country.
The Minister said the beneficial impact of the high levels of investment in upgrading is increasingly evident throughout the country. Since 2000, a total of 41 schemes, delivering 277kms of new roads, have been completed. Work is underway on another 19 projects (214kms), including by passes of Monasterevin, Cashel, Dundalk, Carrickmacross, Sligo, Ennis and Fermoy and a further 11 projects (73kms) are at tender stage.
The N3-N55 By-pass link involves the construction of 2.8km of standard single carriageway road from the Dublin Road roundabout on the N3 at Pollamore to the N55 at Corlorgan, south of Cavan. To be built at a total cost of €11.9 m, the By-pass link road will carry traffic volumes of around 6,000 vehicles per day when completed in early 2006.
The new road will link with the completed Phase 1 of the By-Pass which involved the construction of 9.5km of single carriageway on the N3 from Tullycoe (Dublin Road) to north of Butler's Bridge. Built at a cost of €20 million it was opened to traffic in September 1999.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Brennan said: "This new road is a vital link in the Cavan By-Pass and the urgent need for it has increased significantly since Phase 1 was opened five years ago. Since then traffic volumes have increased substantially and are currently about 9,000 vehicles a day on the existing N55. The result has been traffic delays of up to 30 minutes at the main junction at peak times. The new link will unclog this traffic pinch point by carrying traffic volumes in the region of 6,000 vehicles, or 67% of existing traffic, per day. Road users can look forward to significantly reduced journey times that will be further improved as other major schemes on the N3 are undertaken."
The Minister added that, in addition, construction of the new road would bring other benefits, including:
-
Contribute to the provision of a consistent standard of national road;
-
Improve safety for all road users;
-
Reduce transport costs and facilitate competitiveness in the transport of goods and
-
Improve environmental quality for residents along the existing route.
The Minister said that a number of other major schemes to upgrade the N3 are well advanced. These include:
N3 Clonee - North of Kells
This project, involving the construction of 49km of motorway and over 14m of single carriageway, was approved by An Bord Pleanala in August 2003. The project is being undertaken as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract. The tender process is underway and a shortlist of four consortia has been approved.
N3 Virginia Bypass
The provision of 11.4km of single carriageway bypassing Virginia. A preferred route has been identified. The date of publication of the CPO is under review.
N3 Belturbet By-Pass
Preliminary design is underway on this project which involves the provision of 9km of single carriageway by-passing Belturbet. The CPO and EIS documents are complete and the date of publication is under review and is expected to be complete and published in early 2005.
Minister Brennan said that rapid progress is now being made on rolling out a major national roads building programme as a result of a number of recent developments, primarily the securing of the historic agreement with the Department of Finance on the multi annual funding arrangement for infrastructure projects that guarantees State investment of almost €7 billion over the next five years. When this is combined with up to €2 billion in private investment the result is that in the region of €9 billion will be poured into building new motorways and dual carriageways on a scale never before envisaged.
Minister Brennan said: "What this means in real practical terms is that on average €150 million will be spent each month for the next five years on building the motorway infrastructure that is vital to the future economic growth of this country. This is primarily taxpayers money that is being invested so there is a clear responsibility on all involved to ensure it is managed properly and value for the money is delivered".
The Minister added: "We are entering a particularly exciting era for road building in Ireland. The combination of the agreed five year rolling multi-annual investment package, the maximum use of Design and Build contracts, and the enhanced management of projects by the National Roads Authority means we can deliver the major roads projects faster, within budget and, in most cases, ahead of schedule. The guaranteed annual investment is the most significant development in years for roads. It allows the Department and the National Roads Authority to better plan and implement ambitious projects with greater effectiveness and with the emphasis on delivery, transparency and, above all else, real value for the massive amounts of money being invested."
ENDS
Further information:
Tom Rowley (01) 6041089 087 8124723
Veronica Scanlan (01) 6041087 087 6430622
Map of the By-Pass attached.
