Government Capital Spending on Roads: 2016-2022

spacetweek

By the looks of it a large amount of new starts in 2018. For funding reasons they'll probably split everything between 2018, 2019 and possibly 2020 so I wouldn't expect them all to actually start in 2018.

annfield1978

N2 Slane Bypass to be issued to Consultants shortly to take through Route Selection and Planning Stages via the TII Consultancy Framework

marno21

L1011 wrote: »

It won't cease to apply until the final negotiated exit date or 24 months after A.50, whichever is first - if at all, as the EEA membership option still imposes the vast bulk of EU rules. Its far more likely we'd pull our funding (again) before that happened; so they'll have to find a way to get the development approved in accordance with it anyway.

Oh yeah, but then again, on the other hand, construction of the A5 isn't going to happen today or tomorrow either

NiallBoo

annfield1978 wrote: »

N2 Slane Bypass to be issued to Consultants shortly to take through Route Selection and Planning Stages via the TII Consultancy Framework

Maybe this is out of place or has been done to death already...but is there any particular reason to stick with the n2 north of ashbourne?

To me it seems like greatly upgrading and rerouting the n53 (dundalk to castleblaney)* would be a more sensible alternative?

Is there a particular reason why going through/near slabs is preferred?


(*ie. Reroute it to dundalk to the existing n2 half way between carrickmacross and castleblaney - conveniently avoiding having to cross into the north. )

L1011

Slane needs a second bridge regardless

NiallBoo

L1011 wrote: »

Slane needs a second bridge regardless

It's pretty narrow alright but would replacing it be necessary if the through-traffic gets diverted?

Would banning HGVs from slane bridge (and presumably stackallen) be a goer if it weren't being used as a main north/south route?

marno21

The bridge at Slane definately needs relief, however the ~40km N2 Ashbourne to Ardee scheme isn't the solution, the 4km N2 Slane BP is.

Long term, Dublin -> NI traffic will be directed via the M1 and likely a N33 2+2 upgrade or a N53 upgrade. Upgrading the N2 is ridiculous considering it's about 6km from the M1 to the N2 at Collon.

The final part of the A5 upgrade, from Omagh to Ballygawley, is also dependent on an N2 upgrade south of the border, so it's assumed it will be done eventually.

spacetweek

marno21 wrote: »

The final part of the A5 upgrade, from Omagh to Ballygawley, is also dependent on an N2 upgrade south of the border, so it's assumed it will be done eventually.

Not quite - the Ballygawley-Border part is dependent on that. The Omagh-BG part is going ahead anyway, in 2019.

marno21

As it stands, there is lots of chatter about a review of this programme next year which is being used to promote the possibility of inclusion of projects such as the M20 or the N52 Ardee BP.

As it stands, only the N56 Dungloe-Glenties and possibly the M7 upgrade will be underway two years into the six years of the programme.

I am not including the PPPs here because they were announced in 2009, would've been underway earlier barring the fiscal reasons I won't go into here, and in fact Gort-Tuam was underway early in 2015 and Howlin was delaying his motorway and expressway for the election to do some sod turning.

Not only was it an underwhelming terrible plan to begin with, they can't even get this much done.

annfield1978

PoolDude wrote: »

I don't see the Oilgate bypass listed there, yet there seems to have been money allocated for the early stages of that work

Tender issued via the TII Framework

The proposed scheme entails the provision of a bypass of the village of Oilgate, Co. Wexford. The scheme will interface with the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme which will tie into the existing N11 at Scurlocksbush, north of Oilgate. The scheme is approximately 4 kilometres in length and ties into the existing N11, south of Oilgate, in the vicinity of Tinnahask / Whitefort. It is the intention of the Contracting Authority to engage a consultant to complete Phase 1 of Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s Project Management Guidelines 2010 (TII PMG). Using the Project Stages as defined in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Capital Works Management Framework, the Consultant will be engaged to complete Stage (i) Feasibility Study / Preliminary Report. The Consultant will need to carry out a Preliminary Appraisal as set out in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s Common Appraisal Framework for Transport Projects and Programmes (March 2016). A full description of the services required by the Client is provided in Schedule B of the Tender and Schedule for the Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical).

marno21

annfield1978 wrote: »

Tender issued via the TII Framework

The proposed scheme entails the provision of a bypass of the village of Oilgate, Co. Wexford. The scheme will interface with the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme which will tie into the existing N11 at Scurlocksbush, north of Oilgate. The scheme is approximately 4 kilometres in length and ties into the existing N11, south of Oilgate, in the vicinity of Tinnahask / Whitefort. It is the intention of the Contracting Authority to engage a consultant to complete Phase 1 of Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s Project Management Guidelines 2010 (TII PMG). Using the Project Stages as defined in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Capital Works Management Framework, the Consultant will be engaged to complete Stage (i) Feasibility Study / Preliminary Report. The Consultant will need to carry out a Preliminary Appraisal as set out in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s Common Appraisal Framework for Transport Projects and Programmes (March 2016). A full description of the services required by the Client is provided in Schedule B of the Tender and Schedule for the Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical).

Is this to be built to motorway standard?

L1011

marno21 wrote: »

Is this to be built to motorway standard?

It has to meet the TEN-T standards which we have no other equivalent for, as far as I know.

The A8 upgrade in NI meets TEN-T with roundabouts but it has two carriageways with a solid median and hard shoulder.

The NRA shouldn't tender for something that doesn't meet their public standards, but they could I guess.

marno21

L1011 wrote: »

It has to meet the TEN-T standards which we have no other equivalent for, as far as I know.

The A8 upgrade in NI meets TEN-T with roundabouts but it has two carriageways with a solid median and hard shoulder.

The NRA shouldn't tender for something that doesn't meet their public standards, but they could I guess.

This is only TEN-T comprehensive I thought? Surely if that's the case the N11 from J6 - J14 will be done soon too.

Will be interesting to see what standard the Rathkeale-Foynes will be done

These dualling schemes in the North aren't that great are they - roundabouts and LILOs

L1011

marno21 wrote: »

This is only TEN-T comprehensive I thought? Surely if that's the case the N11 from J6 - J14 will be done soon too.

Will be interesting to see what standard the Rathkeale-Foynes will be done

These dualling schemes in the North aren't that great are they - roundabouts and LILOs

As far as I know the standards only apply to new works; not compulsion on existing.

marno21

It is now one year since this plan was published, and whilst those of us on the forum were optimistic that a roads plan had finally been published after many years of a construction drought, we were a bit too optimistic.

There has been very little movement across many of the schemes that comprise the already underwhelming plan, with several schemes undergoing ZERO movement in the past year. Only one of the schemes is likely to start within the next two years, that being the M7 Naas/Newbridge bypass upgrade.

Overall, the falling through of this plan and the lack of ambition in the plan anyway, the Irish road network comes under major pressure, especially in Cork and Galway, where the lack of several important schemes such as the M20, Dunkettle Interchange and M28 in Cork and the N6 Outer Bypass in Galway lead to signficiant congestion and delays on a daily basis.

Here's an update on all the schemes announced in the plan. As you can see, the update is very similar to the last update I put up in June 9 months into the plan:

Road schemes:

N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin:
Advance works on this are ongoing, with Sligo CoCo having a view to the beginning of construction in 2018.
Expected opening: 2020

N5 Westport to Turlough:
Advance works are complete on this scheme, but resources on Mayo are concentrated on a realignment of the N26 at Cloongullane Bridge, construction should start in 2018.
Expected opening: 2020

M7 widening J9-J11, J9A Osberstown & R409 Sallins BP:
Preliminary works are ongoing, and a tender has been awarded for the design of the scheme. The official line from Atkins, who were awarded that tender is late 2019, however it is hoped it would be opened earlier
Expected opening: late 2018 (presumed)/end 2019 (official)

N8/N25/N40 Dunkettle Interchange upgrade:
Still no news on this since the plan was announced, apart from the appointment of technical advisors. TII's Dominic Mullaney has recently said that the scheme is expected to start in 2018 after extensive traffic management plans have been organised.
Expected opening: 2020

N22 Baile Bhurine to Macroom:
Whilst this is almost shovel ready, Dominic Mullaney of TII recently said at a select committee that this scheme would begin in Q1 2020.
Expected opening: late 2022

N56 Dungloe to Glenties (26.9km)
Cloghbolie - Boyoughter (3.3km) opened 2014
Boyoughter - Kilkenny (4.9km) under construction
Rest is TBC.
Expected opening: 2019

N56 Mountcharles to Inver:
No news since the plan was announced. However, at a 5km long SC scheme, it shouldn't be too long to do.
Expected opening: 2019

N59 Moycullen BP:
Although shovel ready, no movement on this since the plan was announced.
Expected opening: TBC

Subject to planning:
N2 Slane BP:
No movement on this since the plan was announced, bar the issuing of a tender through the TII framework for consultants to be appointed to the scheme
Expected opening: 2022

N6 Galway City Outer Bypass:
This scheme is progressing through the planning stages with EIS & CPO due Q3 2016 (still not published). If funding is committed to by the government, it should be ready to go within a few years.
Expected opening: 2022

N21 Adare BP & N21/N69 Limerick - Foynes:
These were promised seperately, but have now been amalgamated into the N21/N69 Limerick-Foynes scheme. The route has been selected and refined down to a 100m corridor, with junction details also released. Pending EU funding release a start in late 2018 may be feasible.
Expected opening: 2021

M28 Cork - Ringaskiddy
Another scheme racing through the processes, with the final scheme, EIS & Motorway Order due before the end of the year. With this in mind, an early 2019 start should be achieved.
Expected opening: 2021

N72 Mallow Northern BP:
This is undergoing a feasability study by TII, which will be published before the end of the year. This study will decide whether the scheme actually goes ahead or not, and will decide how it will link in with the M20 Cork-Limerick scheme. Land purchase etc. will begin in 2017 if it progresses
Expected opening: 2021

Killaloe area road improvement plan (Killaloe BP, new Shannon crossing & new R494 Birdhill-Ballina)
Objections to this were recently quashed in the courts, so progression of this scheme soon is likely:
Expected opening: TBC

Other schemes mentioned in the plan are the new bridge in Sligo, distributor roads for Portlaoise & Athy, phase IV of the Dingle relief road & the new Laytown to Bettystown spine road, however none are under construction.

A5 Aughnacloy - Derry:
A special mention for the NI's A5, with the Irish government committing €25m every year from 2016-2018. Construction on the first section from Derry - Strabane will begin in 2017, with another stretch from Omagh to Ballygawley to begin in 2019. However, an objection has made which will likely push the start of this scheme back to 2018, which may cause funding issues.
Expected opening (for the lot): 2028, pending upgrade of the N2 to meet the proposed Ballygawley to the border stretch.

Limerick74

The Foynes to Limerick Scheme (N21/N69) Route Selection Report has an opening date of 2024. I would assume a few of the other projections above are very optimistic.

spacetweek

Most of the schemes were suspended (or brand new?) when the plan was announced. When you're starting from scratch it takes a few years to get anything to construction.

marno21

spacetweek wrote: »

Most of the schemes were suspended (or brand new?) when the plan was announced. When you're starting from scratch it takes a few years to get anything to construction.

Opposite. The only new scheme in there is the Foynes-Limerick.

In fairness, the Slane BP, Galway City BP (new iteration), M28 and Mallow bypass (new iteration) are a few years away from starting.

If the motivation was there, the N4, N5, Macroom BP, Dunkettle, M7 upgrade, Moycullen BP and the two N56 projects could have started in 2017 or even late 2016. Most advance works are done on them, some are even shovel ready.

The only confirmed date we have is 2020 for the Macroom BP, which of all the above schemes is the furthest from being shovel ready, even though in general terms it's not far off being shovel ready. The three secondary schemes are definitely ready to go, and I believe Dunkettle is too.

marno21

marno21 wrote: »

Opposite. The only new scheme in there is the Foynes-Limerick.

In fairness, the Slane BP, Galway City BP (new iteration), M28 and Mallow bypass (new iteration) are a few years away from starting.

If the motivation was there, the N4, N5, Macroom BP, Dunkettle, M7 upgrade, Moycullen BP and the two N56 projects could have started in 2017 or even late 2016. Most advance works are done on them, some are even shovel ready.

The only confirmed date we have is 2020 for the Macroom BP, which of all the above schemes is the furthest from being shovel ready, even though in general terms it's not far off being shovel ready. The three secondary schemes are definitely ready to go, and I believe Dunkettle is too.

The Castlebar - Westport road is fenced ready to go. We are now hearing locally it could be another 3 years. Its definitely not a pro infrastructure government.

marno21

Deleted User wrote: »

The Castlebar - Westport road is fenced ready to go. We are now hearing locally it could be another 3 years. Its definitely not a pro infrastructure government.

3 years til it starts or 3 years til its opened?

marno21

marno21 wrote: »

3 years til it starts or 3 years til its opened?

Starts. Certainly won't be due to any help from Kenny when it does start.

Vilnian

So, with a combination of 3 motorways and DC's u/c for now (M17/M18 Gort to Tuam, M11Gorey to Enniscorthy and N25 New Ross BP), what would most likely be the next big Motorway/DC project starting next?

Smoked Tuna

Any further consideration for widening the M50 southbound to three lanes as far as the Bray South Exit of M11/N11?

Traffic around Bray is very bad at busy times.

spacetweek

Smoked Tuna wrote: »

Any further consideration for widening the M50 southbound to three lanes as far as the Bray South Exit of M11/N11?

Traffic around Bray is very bad at busy times.

Planned but no firm details.

marno21

There are 4 projects in planning (at the very early stages of planning now mind) with the aim of improving traffic flow in the Greater Dublin Area:

* N3 corridor upgrade
* N4 widening/upgrade J1 M50 to J8 Kilcock
* N7 upgrade J1 M50 to J9 Naas North
* M50 South Eastern Motorway/M11/N11 upgrade J13/14 to Glen of the Downs

It appears the M4 will be widened from Lucan to Kilcock, and the M50 from J13/14 to the M11 merge, with the M11 being widened as far as Glen of the Downs (N11).

The rest of the N4, N7 and N11 under these schemes will be upgraded to motorway standard.

The details surrounding the N3 upgrade are unclear at this point.

spacetweek

marno21 wrote: »

It appears the M4 will be widened from Lucan to Kilcock, and the M50 from J13/14 to the M11 merge, with the M11 being widened as far as Glen of the Downs (N11).

The rest of the N4, N7 and N11 under these schemes will be upgraded to motorway standard.

I gotta say that some of that sounds a little optimistic. Not sure how you could turn the N4 Lucan Bypass into a motorway due to footpaths everywhere and it'd be very hard to widen the N11 as far as the Glen of the Downs without having to demolish a lot of houses around Kilmacanogue.

jd

Looks like Shane Ross found writing for the rag a bit easier

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/shane-ross-criticised-for-not-publishing-department-priorities-1.2815344

..
Since July, the department’s website has stated that Mr Ross “will shortly be considering his key priorities for the coming term of office”.
In early August, the department indicated Mr Ross would disclose his key priorities for his department in September. However, they have not been forthcoming to date.
..
The website still highlights the priorities set out by his predecessor, Paschal Donohoe. These were the completion of the cross-city Luas; the Newlands Cross Junction upgrade; a campaign against drug-driving; the publication of a new tourism strategy and the completion of the National Sports Campus.
..

“How can anyone invest in transport or tourism in this country without knowing what the Minister’s position is?” he asked.
“He needs to spend a lot less time running around and focusing on non-department issues.”

Idbatterim

road funding should be massively diverted towards rail in the Dublin area at least, I would also argue that many schemes if they have to be put on hold, should be. Dublin the capital and the lifeblood to the rest of the economy, is grinding to a halt...

NiallBoo

Idbatterim wrote: »

road funding should be massively diverted towards rail in the Dublin area at least, I would also argue that many schemes if they have to be put on hold, should be. Dublin the capital and the lifeblood to the rest of the economy, is grinding to a halt...

Infrastructure funding on the whole is inadequate.

I agree that putting all of the eggs in one tarmac basket is unsustainable.

The best way of increasing road capacity is to give people other viable options.

I think we're inclined to look for silver-bullet solutions where in reality there aren't any. The places that work best have take a multi-faceted approach where users have a variety of good options.

marno21

MOD:

I have moved all posts about the M11/N11/cyclists on the N11/Kilmacanogue to the M11/N11 upgrade thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057631449

Please continue all discussion in that thread, and this thread for the general roads programme