Cullen turns sod to start work on N25 Waterford Bypass

Date: 24 April 2006

"Bypass the most significant Waterford infrastructure ever"

Construction work has started on the Waterford City bypass. Almost 40-years after the project was first called for, Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD today (24th April, 2006) turned the sod to start work on the project, which also features a second bridge crossing of the River Suir.

Minister Cullen described the project as the most significant Waterford infrastructure project ever. He said: "For years, the lack of a bypass and the absence of a second bridge has held us back held us back both socially and economically.

"With no alternative, traffic has been forced onto the quays, resulting in traffic choking the City. This type of congestion is not conducive to making a City work for the people who live here, people who work here or people who do business here. Now finally, after 40-years of hoping, we have secured the resources and the backing to deliver the infrastructure Waterford and the South East needs."

The project, to be completed in 2010, is one of the key road projects in the Government's Transport 21 plan. Involves the construction of a Bypass extending from west of Kilmeaden to east of Slieverue in Co. Kilkenny. The route crosses the River Suir at Grannagh, close to the location of the existing N24/N9 junction to the north west of Waterford City, thus providing Waterford with a second major bridge over the Suir and allowing traffic on the N25 CorkRosslare route to bypass the City.

The project comprises approximately 23km of dual carriageway and a landmark Suir bridge crossing, approximately 475m long. In addition, there will be new connecting roads linking the Bypass to towns in the region and the new Waterford Institute of Technology campus.

Commenting on the bridge, Minister Cullen said: "I am delighted that the new Suir Bridge will be a distinctive and impressive structure. It will be a cable-stayed bridge with a light and elegant design complementing the river and the surrounding landscape. It will be only the second structure of this type on the national road network. The highly impressive Boyne Bridge at Drogheda, which opened in June 2003, was the first such cable stayed bridge and has received widespread commendation. I have no doubt but that in time the Suir Bridge will become a focal point in the South-East region."

Commenting on the benefits of road investment in the South-East, Minister Cullen said: "We have seen the difference road projects can make. New roads like the recently opened Ring Road make a difference for people and jobs in the region. Make a difference for people by allowing easier, safer road journeys in less time and in less traffic. Make a difference for jobs by letting business do business, allowing companies to transport their goods and services with greater certainty. These are the reasons we are working on 38 separate road projects alone this year in Waterford.

"These are the reasons the Government will continue to invest in infrastructure and these are the gains I will continue to work to deliver on for Waterford", he concluded.

Peter Malone, Chairman of the NRA who attended the sod turning, said: "A new platform has been reached today in the development of the national road network in the Southeast as work starts on the Waterford City bypass. It forms part of the development strategy for the Atlantic road corridor as identified in the Government's Transport 21 plan. This state of the art scheme not only incorporates a much needed second crossing of the river suir with the provision of a cable stayed bridge but also entails 23 kms of dual carriageway.

"Ireland's island economy is heavily dependent on efficient access to its ports and this scheme will go a long way in achieving this objective. It will, in addition provide an effective bypass of Waterford city facilitating economic and tourism growth. The advancement of this Public Private Partnership scheme clearly demonstrates the benefits that are being brought by the private sector in accelerating the delivery of the roads programme".

ENDS

Further info:

Dan Pender 01 6041090 / 087 2313415