December 2006

Delivery of Transport 21

The following developments took place in December:


METRO

• Metro North
  
  The RPA launched the procurement process for Metro North with the publication of a Periodic Indicative Notice (PIN) in the Official Journal of the EU informing potential bidders of the forthcoming competition for the project.

LUAS

• Luas Line C1 - Docklands Extension
  
  The Minister signed the Railway Order for the planned Luas extension from Connolly Station to The Point on 18th December 2006.
  
  
• Luas Line B1 - Sandyford to Cherrywood
  
  The High Court fixed 23 January 2007 for the hearing of the judicial review of the grant of the Railway Order for the planned Luas extension to Cherrywood.
  

HEAVY RAIL

• Kildare Route Project
  
  The Minister signed the Railway Order on 5 December. Iarnród Éireann has already commenced enabling works and is proceeding with detailed design and procurement, with a view to commencing the main works early next year.
  

BUSES

• On the 28th of September 2006 the Minister announced Exchequer funding of €30m for the purchase by Dublin Bus of 100 additional buses and a further €2m for the upgrading of garage facilities at Broadstone. The first of the additional buses entered service in December - 11 of them were introduced on services in the Tallaght area and on the QBC operating along the Bray Road. 97 of the buses have been delivered and delivery will be will be completed by end of January 2007. The deployment of the buses is an operational matter for Dublin Bus but it is understood that they will be used across the QBC network
  
  

ROADS

• N6 Kinnegad to Kilbeggan Road Project
  
  On the 5 December, the Minister for Transport, opened the first section of Phase 1 of the N6 Kinnegad to Kilbeggan Road Project). This section comprises 19kms of high quality dual carriageway, built to motorway standard from Kinnegad to Tyrrellspass and has been completed within budget and 12 months ahead of schedule.
  
  
• N7 Nenagh / Limerick 38kms road project
  
  On 7 December, the Minister for Transport, turned the sod on the N7 Nenagh / Limerick road project - the biggest single project on the N7 corridor. The project which is being constructed as a ‘design and build’ plan, is expected to be completed by summer 2009.
  
  
• Kinsalebeg Realignment Road Project
  
  On the 8 December, Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, T.D. opened the N25 Kinsalebeg Realignment road project scheme in County Waterford. This new roadway which comprises of 2.6km of standard single carriageway with junctions and access roads has been completed within budget and two months ahead of schedule.
  
  
• Dublin Port Tunnel
  
  The Dublin Port Tunnel was opened on 20 December 2006. The tunnel contains twin dual-carriageway tunnels 4.5 km each in length, it will create a high quality link for almost two million truck journeys each year from Dublin Port to the M50. As a dedicated route for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), it is estimated that over 6,000 trucks and buses will be removed each day from the streets of Dublin city. They will be able to move toll-free through the Tunnel.