Cullen Opens Mitchelstown Relief Road

Date: 03 July 2006

"Ahead of Schedule & within Budget & removing 20,000 vehicles a day from the streets of Mitchelstown"

Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, T.D., today (Monday, 3rd July, 2006) officially opened the Mitchelstown Relief Road on the N8/N73, a national primary route that forms part of the South West Strategic Road Corridor and the Mitchelstown Fermoy project. Work on the project commenced in May 2005, and has been completed ahead of schedule and within budget.

It is just under two months since Minister Cullen turned the sod on the N8 Cashel-Mitchelstown road project and under two years since he opened the N8 Cashel Bypass. This, he said reflects the huge progress that this Government is making in transforming our national road infrastructure connecting Dublin with the regions and equally importantly, creating a balanced and sustainable growth right across the country.

Minister Cullen said: "The successful and dramatic upgrading of road quality seen under this Government's investment programme is not unique to the Cork Dublin route. It is part, albeit a critically important part, of a planned transformation of our national, inter-urban road network, which will see the completion of the five major inter-urban motorways by 2010. In targeting the main inter-urban routes and, particularly, traffic bottlenecks on these routes, as well as gateways and hubs such as Sligo and Ennis, the national roads programme is underpinning the implementation of the National Spatial Strategy."

The Mitchelstown Relief road consists of the construction of 4.1km single carriageway that incorporates 4 at-grade roundabouts and 3 structures (2 road bridges and 1 machinery underpass). The route starts on the existing N8 south of Mitchelstown and heads west where it crosses the Glanworth road. It continues north before crossing the N73 in the townland of Stagpark. From there it heads northeast where it crosses the R513 and re-connects with the existing N8 to the east. RoadBridge Ltd were the contractors on the project, which was completed three months ahead of schedule.

The Minister spoke of the major steps being taken in Transport 21. "Building on the good work done in upgrading our transport infrastructure in recent years, Transport 21 represents an intensification and strengthening of the Government's commitment to ensuring that Ireland has a transport network to match and support its buoyant economy. The objective of Transport 21 is nothing less than transformation of Ireland's transport network to support and enhance of life and economic activity right across the country."

Road safety was highlighted by the Minister as a major concern as we move into the second half of 2006. Every county and every community, he said, is now benefiting from improved and safer roads. "However, to bring about positive change on road safety in Ireland requires a combination of initiatives by a number of people and organisations. The Government, road users, the Gardai, the National Roads Authority along with local authorities and, of course, the Road Safety Authority, all have a vital role in road safety. The most important of all is to win over the hearts and minds of all road users and change drivers' attitudes. The Road Traffic Bill, which I am hopeful will be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas this week, will provide for the introduction of mandatory breath testing, the privatisation of up to 800 speed cameras and the ban of holding a mobile phone while driving", he concluded.

Mr. Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority said: "I'm confident that the Mitchelstown relief road will deliver, as advertised and offer residents and businesses alike "relief" from the congestion within their town centre. The Mitchelstown relief road is an important component of the overall 37km-N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown project, which began in May. This entire project will deliver the much needed travel time savings between Cork and Dublin."

ENDS

Further info: Veronica Scanlan at 087 6430622.