Cullen announces contract for M50 Phase 1 Upgrade

Date: 30 January 2006

Red Cow to Liffey Valley stretch to go from 4 to 6 lanes with interchange upgrades

Demand Management Study, Public Consultation and Government decision to decide new barrier free structure

Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD today (30th January, 2006) announced the contract for the first phase of the M50 upgrade. The upgrade will see the 5km section from the N7 to the N4 go from four to six lanes with new free-flowing interchanges at the Red Cow, Liffey Valley and Ballymount roundabouts. Work will commence shortly and be completed in 2008.

Minister Cullen welcomed the upgrade saying that taken with the Naas Road widening project, plus upgrades on the N2 and N3, it will deliver improvement for road users.

He said: "The move from four to six lanes, plus free flowing interchanges will improve average peak hour speeds, reduce traffic congestion on the radial routes and improve traffic flow on the whole of the Dublin road network."

On the impact of upgrade works on traffic, Minister Cullen said that concerns were understandable and must be respected. He pointed to the clause in the upgrade contract requiring the contractor to maintain traffic flow during works. The Minister also said a M50 Upgrade Traffic Group will oversee traffic management arrangements. The Group will comprise of representatives of the NRA, local authorities and the Garda.

Commenting on the move to barrier free tolling and the removal of the Westlink Plaza, Minister Cullen said: "The domino effect that is the Westlink is suffocating stretches of the M50. Unlike other toll Plazas, where time savings to motorists have had a positive impact, the same cannot be said of the Westlink. The decision to move to barrier free tolling, finally provides certainty. Certainty that the Plaza will go, certainty that barrier free tolling will replace it and certainty on timing."

Minister Cullen announced that the new barrier free tolling structure will be reached following the completion of a demand management study, a public consultation process and finally a Government decision. "The NRA will come forward to me with options following the completion of a demand management study and a public consultation process. Then, Government will have an opportunity to evaluate the information presented and in turn reach a decision. My view is that the new barrier free tolling scheme be fairly priced and deliver on service to the motorist", he concluded.

Mr. Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority said: "The national roads programme under Transport 21 is not just about building new sections of motorway across the country, it also includes a programme of upgrading motorways and dual carriageways that were designed and constructed some time ago. The unexpected growth in traffic over the last 10 years has placed enormous pressure on the capacity of the M50 and its ability to provide an adequate service to our customers. In this regard, the Authority has moved quickly to prepare an effective strategy to substantially upgrade the M50 in order to improve traffic flow and safety. I am delighted that the Minister for Transport, Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D. is turning the sod today on Phase 1 of this upgrade. Phase 2 is being advanced with pace and will commence later in the year."

ENDS

Further info:

Dan Pender 01 6041090 / 087 2313415

Veronica Scanlan 01 6041087 / 087 6430622

Note for Editors

Project Description

The M50 Upgrade scheme comprises the addition of a third lane in each direction on the M50 over a distance of 31km between the M1 and Sandyford Interchanges. In addition a number of auxiliary weaving lanes will also be provided at interchange locations. Generally the footprint of the upgrade is within the existing motorway boundaries. Modification to 10 interchanges (M1, Ballymun, N2, N3, N4, N7, Ballymount, N81, Scholarstown and Sandyford Interchanges) will provide full or partial free flow for the principal turning movements and the Westlink toll plaza will be upgraded to a fully electronic free flow toll facility. Phase 1 of the upgrade will be delivered by means of a Design & Build contract and Phase 2 will be delivered through the PPP mechanism.

The Environmental Impact Statement for the M50 Upgrade was published by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in September 2004. An Bord Pleanála held an Oral Hearing into the scheme in December 2004 and the scheme was approved with minor modification on the 29 April 2005.

Phase I

The Design & Build contract, which has been awarded to SIAC-Ferrovial M50 Joint Venture, (partnership between the well-established Irish Company SIAC Construction Ltd and the major Spanish Construction Company Ferrovial Agroman S.A.) will include the upgrading of 5km of the existing dual carriageway between the existing N4 (Galway Road) and Ballymount Interchange. Works are expected to be completed by mid 2008. Improvements to the following junctions are also included as part of the contract:

- N4 Interchange: It is proposed to upgrade this interchange to a full free flowing interchange. The interchange is grade separated with the M50 mainline passing underneath. Four new road bridges and one new pedestrian / cyclist bridge will be constructed. In addition, one existing pedestrian bridge will be reconstructed as a pedestrian / cyclist bridge;

- N7 Interchange: It is proposed to upgrade this interchange to a partial free flowing interchange. The interchange is grade separated with the M50 mainline passing underneath. The two existing bridges from the roundabout will be used and a further three new road bridges and two pedestrian / cyclist bridge will be constructed;

- Ballymount Interchange: The proposed interchange involves the provision of a fully signalised interchange with the existing roundabouts removed. Free flow slip lanes are provided for left turning traffic. The existing bridge will be upgraded to three lanes and one additional two lane road bridge will be constructed to the north of the existing road bridge.

Phase II

The PPP contract will comprise the design, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of:

- the upgrade of the existing two lane carriageway between the existing M1 and the N3 (Blanchardstown) junctions and between the N7 junction and the Sandyford Interchange to three lane standard;

- the provision of auxiliary lanes between the M1 and N3 junctions and between the N7 and Scholarstown junctions;

- the major upgrade of the junctions at the M1, N2 (Finglas) and N3 from their current grade separated junction type to partially free flow interchange, and

- upgrade works to the junctions at Ballymun, Ballymount, the N81 (Tallaght), Scholarstown and Sandyford.

The procurement of Phase II as a PPP project has commenced. It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded by end 2006 and that works will be completed by mid 2010. The upgrade of the Westlink Toll Plaza and adjacent roadworks will be procured under a separate contract.

Funding

Phase 1 of the M50 Upgrade is being funded by the Exchequer under the National Development Plan (2000 - 2006) while Phase 2 is being delivered through the PPP mechanism. The cost of Phase I of the scheme is €230m.