Roche Turns the Sod for the €34.6m Kilpedder/Delgany Interchange

Date: 16 October 2006

Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government Mr. Dick Roche T.D. today (16 Oct. 06) turned the sod for the €34.6m Kilpedder/Delgany Interchange on the N11.

The N11 Kilpedder to Delgany Scheme was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 and is being co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Kilpedder Interchange involves the construction of a new grade separated interchange between the N11 at Kilpedder and the Greystones Southern Access Route dual carriageway. When complete the Kilpedder Interchange will link with the Greystones southern access dual carriageway.

Scheme Benefits:

When the interchange is complete it will provide for safe and efficient movement of traffic on the main Dublin /Wexford artery and for local traffic.

The provision of this interchange will remove a substantial number of vehicles from Delgany village estimated at 25% of the current traffic levels.

The interchange is expected to allow for extra traffic, following planning for over 3,000 housing units in Greystones and Delgany.

Together with the overall development of the N11 route, there will be a vast improvement in County Wicklow's road network. This will aid economic growth in the area of Kilpedder and Delgany and the South East as a whole. It will help to promote balanced regional development around the country.

The completion of the Kilpedder Interchange within the next two years will further add to the improvements that have been made to the important N11 Route in recent years such as the Arklow and Bray Bypasses, the Killarney Road Interchange, the Arklow By-Pass, the Glen of the Downs, and the Ashford/Rathnew Bypass.

"The Kilpedder interchange project is an excellent example how National Roads Authority is committed to improving road safety and maximising road efficiency. Due to the economic growth throughout the region the daily through traffic along the N11 has increased significantly. By separating the local traffic from the regional traffic we are able to support continued economic growth and address local safety concerns." Said Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority

"I am delighted to be here today to turn the sod for this very important project on the N11. The N11 has in recent years benefited from massive investment by this Government and huge benefits have accrued to the people of Wicklow, said Minister Roche" "The road network for Wicklow is a priority for me as evidenced by the record funding I have secured for non-national roads and I will continue to do my utmost to ensure that Wicklow gets its fair share," the Minister concluded.

ENDS