July 2008

 

The following developments took place in July:


HEAVY RAIL

On 25 July the Portlaoise Train Care Depot was officially opened. The Depot provides a high quality maintenance and servicing facility for the 183 new intercity railcars and some facilities for outer suburban railcars serving the Kildare route.

On 28 July the new Park West/Cherry Orchard station opened for business. The opening of the station is another important element of the Kildare Route Project.

On 31 July automatic ticket checking was introduced at Pearse Station.


ROADS

N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone

The N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone national road scheme was officially opened to traffic on 16 July, on time and within budget.

The new high quality dual carriageway (29 kms) commences close to Kilbeggan at the western end of the completed N6 Kinnegad to Kilbeggan scheme and connects to the eastern end of the existing Athlone Bypass.

Kilbeggan, Horseleap and Moate are bypassed by the new road. As a result, there will be a reduction in travel time due, in particular, to the bypassing of Moate where delays of up to 45 minutes have been experienced on a regular basis at peak travel periods.

N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown

The N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown scheme was officially opened to traffic on 25 July, 10 months ahead of schedule and within budget.

The scheme which runs between Cashel in County Tipperary and Carrigane, north of Mitchelstown in County Cork, bypasses New Inn and Skehennarinky in County Tipperary, and Kilbehenny in County Limerick. It incorporates a bypass of Cahir town on the N24. This 41km dual carriageway will remove up to 9,500 vehicles daily from the four bypassed towns and villages.