January 2007

The following developments took place in January:


METRO WEST

Metro West will run from Tallaght to connect with Metro North south of Dublin
Airport. The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) has identified two main route
options for Metro West. Route Option 1 runs west of the M50 via Clondalkin,
Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown. Route Option 2 runs west of Clondalkin via
Lucan and Blanchardstown. Various Sub-Options have also been identified.
To help select the best route for Metro West, the RPA held a series of
public consultation days in January.

LUAS

Luas Line B1 - Sandyford to Cherrywood

The Judicial Review proceedings in connection with the Railway Order for the Luas extension to Cherrywood were settled and the RPA anticipate work getting underway quicklyon this project.


Luas Line BX

RPA announced a further round of public consultation on the options for linking the two Luas lines in the city centre. The RPA have, inter alia, outlined how all of the route options, including an additional route option (Option F), compare against a range of key questions.

Feasibility study for Luas line from Rathfarnham, Terenure, Harold’s Cross to the City Centre

On 30 January, the Minister for Transport announced that the RPA will undertake a feasibility study commencing in April 2007 on of a Luas line from Rathfarnham, Terenure and Harold’s Cross to the City Centre.

HEAVY RAIL

The inspector to the Public Inquiry on the Glounthaune – Midleton rail project submitted his report to the Minister on 17 January. The Minister will now consider the report and other submissions made to him in respect of the Iarnród Éireann Railway Order application before making a decision on the application.

BUSES

On the 30 January, the Minister for Transport launched the entry into service of 100 additional buses. The buses will be deployed throughout the Dublin Bus network in the coming months.


ROADS


N18 Ennis Bypass

On 26 January, the Minister for Transport officially opened the Ennis Bypass. Part of the Atlantic Road Corridor that stretches from Letterkenny to Waterford, the Bypass comprises 14kms of dual carriageway on the N18 national primary road from Dromoland to a point south of Crusheen village where the Crusheen to Gort project is due to begin next year. It is expected to remove over 20,000 vehicles from the streets of Ennis every day.


N56 Mountain Top

On 19 January, the Minister of State for Transport, Pat the Cope Gallagher turned the sod on the N56 Mountain Top / Illistrin road project, Phase 2.
The 3.5km project lies on the N56 which is the main artery from Northwest Donegal to Letterkenny and on to the rest of the country. It stretches from the Calhame junction in Mountain Top on to Illistrin. Phase 1 of the project was completed last July. The two phases comprise 5kms in length.