Waterford -> Dublin Motorway

Bards

From Irish Examiner
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15/11/05
Work on €630m road gets green light

By Neans McSweeney, South East Correspondent
AN BORD Pleanála has given the green light for work to begin on the long-awaited Waterford to Kilcullen dual carriageway, despite close to 20 major objections from land and home owners.

The appeals board has attached just five minor conditions to planning for the €630 million route, clearing the way for diggers to move in on site in spring of 2007.

Adjustments to the plan include two further over-bridges to allow access to properties; extra clearance for one bridge and that dust monitoring should take place at eight specified locations.

The next phase of the project will involve archaeological testing, resolution and the issue of tenders for the construction of the new inter-urban route.

Project leader Joe Gannon said: “People in the South-East can be reassured they will have a road infrastructure that will help to support employment in the region by providing safer and faster access to national and international markets.

“Traffic congestion will be eased and road safety improved in towns and villages along the N9 and N10.

“In particular, Thomastown, Gowran, Paulstown, Stoneyford, Knocktopher, Ballyhale and Mullinavat will see a dramatic decrease in non-local through traffic when the road is completed.”

The 64km route will have six new grade separated junctions and 87 bridges. In February 2005, the county councils jointly published an environmental impact statement for the project, which identifies a number of measures to minimise disruption during construction and mitigate any adverse effects of the scheme on the environment.

“There is very little change involved from our original plan,” Mr Gannon added. “We have been working away on the project while the board was considering its decision. There was a certain element of risk in that, but we did not want the project to fall behind, time-wise.”

In the course of the seven-day long oral hearing which began on June 8 last, 12 presentations were made by groups or individuals who has concerns over the compulsory purchase of lands. A further five presentations were made on the environmental impact statement aspect of the works.

Among those to object were former Olympic gold medallist, Michelle Smith de Bruin, who argued the road would cut close to her home and be a source of noise and nuisance.

It will take two years to finish the first phase of the road, from Waterford city to Knocktopher in Kilkenny

trishw78

Bards wrote:

It will take two years to finish the first phase of the road, from Waterford city to Knocktopher in Kilkenny

Thats quite an ambitious time frame for such a distance. It took 2years just to build the Outer Ring Road in the city. and that was 6 months ahead of schedule

Bards

THe Kilkock Motorway will open on December 12th a Full 12 Months ahead of shedule. 40 KM Long it began May 2003. Just 2.5 years to complete.

The outer Ring Road is just 7Km in Length. If enough man power and plant is thrown at the project, it can be done it the time alloted.

merlante

Yay!

Mossy Monk

Bards wrote:

THe Kilkock Motorway will open on December 12th a Full 12 Months ahead of shedule. 40 KM Long it began May 2003. Just 2.5 years to complete.

The outer Ring Road is just 7Km in Length. If enough man power and plant is thrown at the project, it can be done it the time alloted.

ahead of schedule is not something you expect in this country

meldrew

The sooner the better , then we wont have to use that bog road through Kilkenny anymore

Trotter

Can someone give me a realistic estimate as to when Im going to be able to drive to Dublin (well.. Paulstown at least) on this new road?

Ive heard 2010.. And I dont believe it!

Beer is Life

Mossy Monk wrote:

ahead of schedule is not something you expect in this country

More than likely they purposely over-estimated the time frame for completion so they would be gauranteed to finish ahead of schedule.

Jesper

yeah about 2011 you'll make it to Paulstown. The first expansion to Knocktopher will all be dual carragway. 17km of it. Just hope they keep the tolls of it! All the roads started since about 2000 are coming in on time since there all being leased out to private companies.

Bards

there are no plans to toll this road at present. It is not listed as a PPP project and will be financed by the exchequer. Prime TIme did a report on it a few weeks back and tried to imply that they only reason that it is not tolled is the fact that the Transport Minister is from Waterford.

merlante

Bards wrote:

there are no plans to toll this road at present. It is not listed as a PPP project and will be financed by the exchequer. Prime TIme did a report on it a few weeks back and tried to imply that they only reason that it is not tolled is the fact that the Transport Minister is from Waterford.

Bastards!

Trotter

Bards wrote:

there are no plans to toll this road at present. It is not listed as a PPP project and will be financed by the exchequer. Prime TIme did a report on it a few weeks back and tried to imply that they only reason that it is not tolled is the fact that the Transport Minister is from Waterford.

Shock horror... Waterford getting some use out of a minister. Count the bridges in all the other main cities.. you'll see we're not the only ones getting something from our minister. Amazing what a kick in the behind for a party during a European election will do.. apart from the sniff of a general election sooner than we might think.

Lets hope Minister Cullen pulls out some more money for the region to make sure he's re-elected. You can be sure it'll dry up for another 6 years if he is.

Bards

I was at an IBEC conference held in Faithleg hotel this morning, and Martin Cullen was among the speakers. He gave a 2006 start date for the Motorway from Waterford to Knocktopher and the commencement pf the 20Km Carlow by-pass.

The Winning Consortia of the N25 Waterford City Bypass will also be announced next month as Best And Final Offers are now in. Construction will definately begin 1st Qtr 2006.

Watch this space

mike65

Bards wrote:

The Winning Consortia of the N25 Waterford City Bypass will also be announced next month as Best And Final Offers are now in. Construction will definately begin 1st Qtr 2006.

Please let this be true.

Mike.

Our man in Havana

Is the 2nd river crossing part of the city bypass?

Freddie59

Bond-007 wrote:

Is the 2nd river crossing part of the city bypass?

Yes.