Speech by Mr. Martin Cullen T.D., Minister for Transport at the Official Opening of the N3-N55 Cavan Bypass

Date: 03 March 2006

Introduction

I am delighted to be here today at the opening of N3 - N55 Cavan Bypass which marks yet another milestone in upgrading the national roads infrastructure. I am pleased to say that this is yet another project that is on time and on budget.

Our quality of life is bound up with transport. For family, social, educational, work and business reasons, we all have a need to travel. This Government is committed to putting in place a high quality transport infrastructure that matches our status as one of the most dynamic economies in the world over recent years. Excellent projects such as this one are clear evidence of this and will help in making our economy more competitive, in creating jobs and in achieving more balanced regional development.

The dramatic change in our economic circumstances since the mid-1990s has had a profound effect on the demand for transport which in turn has placed an enormous burden on a national transport network that had lain undeveloped for almost one hundred years.

Since1995

Our population has increased by 500,000 and demographic projections indicate a continuing rise.
The number of people at work has increased by 600,000.
The number of private cars on our roads has increased by more than 500,000.
The number of new houses being built each year has increased from around 30,000 to around 77,000 currently, and this is not happening just in our cities - it right throughout the country.

Our economic success over this short period puts greater demands on us. It has been a huge driver in the increase in the demand for travel. However, we must acknowledge that it is providing us with the means to invest heavily in our transport infrastructure.

So, the net result is that we are trying to address two major issues at the same time. We are seeking to redress serious past

under- investment while at the same time working with phenomenal growth in traffic resulting from our recent and continuing exceptional economic performance.

Over the next 10 years we will spend through Transport 21 an average of over €9.4 million each day on our transport infrastructure. Transport 21 is not just about Dublin and other major cities. Our Transport 21 goal is to provide Ireland with a first class transport system that, on a national level, connects all regions to each other and to our main seaports and airports, and, in the cities, will provide greatly enhanced public transport alternatives to the private car.

Transport 21 represents an intensification and strengthening of this Fianna Fail led 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 a transformation of Ireland's transport network. This is vital, and the level of investment shows the priority that this Government has placed on our road infrastructure.

Project

This project involved the construction of 2.8km standard single carriageway road from the Dublin road roundabout on the N3 at Pollamore to the N55 at Corlorgan, south of Cavan. It is part of a wider programme of works upgrading roads (M1, N2 and N3) serving Border region. On M1, N2 and N3, major works completed include the Drogheda, Dundalk and Cavan Bypasses, Cloghran to Lissenhall and Lissenhall to Balbriggan, projects underway include N1 Cross Border (Dundalk / Newry) Section, N2 Ashbourne to M50 (including Ashbourne Bypass), N2 Castleblayney and Monaghan Bypasses and projects in planning include M3 Clonee to South of Virginia, N2 Slane Bypass and the N3 Virginia and Belturbet Bypasses.

This upgraded road network serving the Border region will facilitate economic and employment growth. It will enhance the capacity Cavan/Monaghan/Louth areas and the BMW region.

The good progress being made in upgrading the national road network in the North East is being reflected around the country. This year, I am pleased to tell you that work is continuing on 25 projects throughout the country, from Fermoy in Cork, to Arklow, to Gorey, to Ennis, to Ballyshannon in Donegal.

Coupled with this opening today, 12 other projects are due for completion this year including the N2 Ashbourne Bypass (end of April), N4 Edgesworthstown Bypass and the N52 Mullingar Bypass. Work is due to start this year on other major projects such as the N6 Kinnegad/Athlone Phase 2, N6 Galway/Ballinasloe, N7/N8 Portlaoise/ Cullahill/ Mountrath.

National Spatial Strategy

A key objective of the national roads development programme is to support the implementation of the National Spatial Strategy.The programme currently being implemented by the NRA is in line with the transport infrastructure priorities identified in the National Spatial Strategy.

The Cavan Bypass and work underway on the N2 Monaghan Bypass (expected to be completed later this year) will form the hub role identified for the towns of Cavan and Monaghan in the National Spatial Strategy. This prioritisation of investment in the National Spatial Strategy gateways and hubs can be seen throughout the country, not just in upgrade work on the major-urban routes, but in projects such as the Sligo Inner Relief Road and Ennis Bypass.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all involved with this project including Cavan County Council, the National Roads Authority, the land owners and others who have cooperated in getting the project to completion, Priority Construction Limited the contractors and indeed everyone involved in the successful delivery of the project.

I wish everybody here happy and safe journeys on this and all other roads in the country and, again I appeal to all of you here to today to drive on our roads with care and with due consideration for all other road users. Thank you.