[PR] Cullen turns sod on €14m Edgeworthstown Bypass

Victor

http://www.transport.ie/press/pressrel/2005.asp?lang=ENG&loc=1850

Cullen turns sod on €14m Edgeworthstown Bypass
2 June 2005

"A vital step in improving infrastructure serving midlands and the West"

Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD today (2nd June, 2005) turned the sod on the Edgeworthstown bypass. Speaking in Longford, Minister Cullen said the €14m Government investment is a vital step in the improvement of road infrastructure serving the midlands and the West of Ireland.

Minister Cullen said: "Edgeworthstown has been forced to cope with modern day traffic flows of over 14,500 vehicles per day. This project will reduce traffic levels within the town centre by up to 70% and in doing so, make Edgeworthstown a better place for pedestrians. The 3km bypass will greatly reduce journey times on the N4 and give residents of Edgeworthstown back their streets with reduced through-traffic. It will also have a positive impact, socially, economically and environmentally on the town and surrounding areas."

Minister Cullen highlighted Edgeworthstown's location on the East/West Strategic Route Corridor and said the provision of the new bypass was a crucial step in linking the West and North West with Dublin and the Eastern region. The opening of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road later this year and the N4 Kilcock/Kinnegad in 2006 are another two projects that will benefit this east/west corridor.

He said: "This is among the most crucial projects in the Government's road investment programme. For too long, tailbacks and bottlenecks have typified road journeys to the West. We have set about correcting years of under investment to address the problem."

Minister Cullen said at the core of the Government's roads programme is an absolute commitment to making sure that we have lasting foundations in place to protect and grow employment in every part of the country.

He said: "Investing €150m per month in our road network is not just about delivering shorter, safer and superior road journeys. It is equally about adding personal advantages to people's lives. Investing €150m per month in roads provides and protects jobs, ensures goods get to the market quicker and allows the regions to prosper. These gains contribute to a better quality of life."

Commenting at the sod turning, Mr. Fred Barry, Chief Executive, NRA said: "The N4 Edgeworthstown Inner Relief Road is a scheme that will greatly improve the quality of life for people in this part of Longford reducing town centre traffic levels by 70% leading to a greatly improved living environment and shorter journey times.

"In a national context this scheme forms part of the strategic N4 Route from Sligo to Dublin, which links the west and northwest of the country with Dublin and the eastern region. The NRA recognises the importance of this route and allocated in excess of €70 million this year to advance works on the entire N4 and there is more good news for motorists using the route, the N4 will undergo major change over the next 12 months with the completion of the 37km M4 Kilcock-Kinnegad scheme early next year."

ENDS

thejollyrodger

is this road going to be motorway standard ? i dont see the expected completion date anywhere:S

Victor

thejollyrodger wrote:

is this road going to be motorway standard ?

No. Definitely not.

thejollyrodger wrote:

i dont see the expected completion date anywhere:S

You wouldn't want them held to a promise, would you?

www.nra.ie

"To open 2007".

spacetweek

thejollyrodger wrote:

is this road going to be motorway standard ?

Ha! It's only going to a 2-laner. Rural sections of roads like N4, N3, N2 etc. would never be more than that.

Roads like this usually take around 18 months to build, so it should be ready by late 2006/early 2007.