To ask the Minister for Transport if he will revisit the decision taken in 1999 not to allow the NRA to build motorways between Dublin and regional cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter
- James Breen.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 23rd November, 2004.
Ref No: 30190/04 Proof: 145
Transferred (from) Taoiseach -- 23/11/2004 -- Question No 833 (Written)
Answered by the Minister for Transport
(Martin Cullen)
Reply
The National Development Plan (NDP) provides for a substantial investment in national roads over the period 2000-2006. A significant priority within the national roads programme is to upgrade the 5 main inter-urban routes, linking Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and the Dundalk Border with Dublin, to motorway/high quality dual carriageway standard, involving a substantial Public Private Partnership (PPP) component based on user tolls and brings significant improvements to other key routes.
The current position in relation to the upgrading of the 5 major inter-urban routes is that the M1 is expected to be fully complete by end 2006. Work is complete on major projects on the N7 (Monasterevin By Pass), on the N8 (Cashel By Pass). The N4/N6 (Kilcock/Kinnegad) project continues under construction. Work started this year on the Dundalk Western By Pass and Dundalk to Newry on the M1, on Fermoy By Pass (N8), and Naas Road Widening (N7).
Completion of these projects will eliminate many of the major bottlenecks on these routes. In addition it is expected that Compulsory Purchase Orders and Environmental Impact Statements for the remaining projects in planning on these routes will either be approved by, or be before, An Bord Pleanála by end 2004.
