July 2006

Delivery of Transport 21

The following developments on delivery of Transport 21 have taken place in the month of July 2006.


Luas / Metro

• Docklands Luas Extension: The report of the Inspector appointed to conduct the Public Inquiry on the RPA’s application for a Railway Order for the extension of Luas to Dublin Docklands was submitted to the Minster on 20 July 2006. The Minister will now consider the Inspector’s report and other relevant documentation and will make a determination in relation to the granting of a Railway Order in due course.
  
  
  

Heavy Rail

• Launch of New Intercity Trains: On 10 July, the Minister for Transport officially launched the entry into service of the first trains from Iarnród Éireann’s €117 million order for 67 new intercity carriages for its Dublin-Cork route. All 67 carriages are expected to be in service by the end of 2006, when hourly departures will commence on the route.
  
  
  

National Roads

• N8/N73 Mitchelstown Western Relief Road: The Minister for Transport Martin Cullen TD officially opened the 4 kilometre bypass of Mitchelstown on 3 July 2006. Work on the project had commenced in May 2005. The estimated total cost of the scheme is €27.5 million and it was completed 3 months ahead of schedule and within budget. The scheme will eliminate the traffic bottleneck of Mitchelstown and remove significant levels of HGVs and other traffic from Mitchelstown town centre.
  
  
• N21 Castleisland to Abbeyfeale: The Minister of State at the Department of Transport Pat the Cope Gallagher TD officially opened the N21 Castleisland to Abbeyfeale road project on 24 July 2006. The project includes 7km of wide 2-lane single carriageway. The overall scheme estimate is €34 million and it was completed 3 months ahead of schedule.