Speech by Mr. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport, at the official opening of the N4 Lucan Bypass upgrade scheme

Date: 06 July 2009

I am delighted to be here today to officiate at the opening of the N4 Lucan Bypass upgrade scheme. Today marks yet another important milestone event in the upgrading of our national road network. By improving upon this strategically important 7km stretch of road, we have achieved a number of targets including improved road safety for pedestrians, cyclists and all road users, reduced travel times on journeys in and out of Dublin (saving 27 minutes inbound and 7 minutes outbound at peak times), improved access to both Dublin Airport and Dublin Port, and additional priority for bus services along the route increasing average speeds and predictability for commuters.

The scheme extends from the Kildare County Boundary in the west to the interchange with the M50 Motorway on the outskirts of Dublin in the east.

The route follows the line of the existing N4 and incorporates the widening to three lanes plus hard shoulder/bus lane from the M50 Interchange to the Ballydowd Interchange, widening to three lanes plus hard strip from the Ballydowd Interchange to the Leixlip Interchange, extension of bus lanes west of the Ballydowd Interchange, full grade separated interchange at the Newcastle Road, and upgrading of the Ballydowd Interchange.

On a national level, this scheme forms part of the Dublin to Galway major interurban route.

The focus up to 2010 is on the major inter-urban routes between Dublin and the border on the M1, the N4/6 to Galway, the N7 to Limerick, the N8 to Cork and the N9 to Waterford. The M1 is already open and the others are on target to be completed by 2010. At this stage, motorway standard roads are either open to traffic or well advanced in construction along the full length of each of the major inter-urban routes. All are coming in on time and in budget.

The benefits of this scheme for the people of Lucan will be no less significant. Local roads will be less congested because of easier access to the N4 at improved junctions, especially at the Newcastle road.

Also the grade separation of the Newcastle road junction will mean that residents living to the south of the N4 will have easier access to Lucan village.

We have indeed entered more challenging times for our economy. However, I believe that we are far better equipped to meet the challenges than ever before. In terms of transport, infrastructure and connectivity, both in this region and countrywide, the capital investment programme which the government has put in place and will continue to deliver, leaves us well positioned to weather the immediate difficulties and to take early advantage of a return to economic growth.

The opening of this project today, together with the many others which are ongoing all around the country, are the clearest possible evidence of this Government’s continued commitment, under the ambitious framework of the National Development Plan and Transport 21, to the transformation of Ireland’s transport infrastructure.

Despite the current economic challenges, under Transport 21, very significant investment is being made in Ireland’s road, rail, bus, tram, metro and regional airports between 2006 and 2015. Transport 21 is transforming the quality of life of families and commuters, linking communities together, and making it easier to do business right across Ireland.

The cumulative Exchequer expenditure on Transport 21 projects and programmes over its first three years was almost €6.8 billion, while total PPP expenditure for the period was €1,020.7 million. In 2009, over €2 billion has been allocated. As well as providing large sums for national road development, these huge levels of investment include substantial funding for Public Transport projects, over €1.5 billion in 2008 and 2009.

With this and other new infrastructure in place, we aim to weather the current difficulties and take early advantage of a return to economic growth.

Finally in closing, I would like to express my gratitude to the National Roads Authority and the construction company on this project, Jons Civil Engineering Ltd, the Engineers, Halcrow Barry Ltd and Roughan & O’Donovan / Faber Maunsell, and last, but by no means least, the staff of South Dublin County Council. Well done, one and all.

ENDS