December 2010

The following developments took place in December 2010:


METRO

Metro North

The Railway Order in respect of Metro North, which was granted (subject to conditions) to the RPA by An Bord Pleanála on 27 October, became enforceable on 23 December.

As required by An Bord Pleanála, a separate Railway Order application is being prepared for a newly located depot for Metro North. Public consultation on the options for the depot has begun.


ROADS

M7 Castletown to Nenagh

The 36km M7 Castletown to Nenagh scheme opened on 22 December, which signalled the completion of the entire 180km M7 Limerick to Dublin inter-urban motorway. It further signalled the completion of the new national motorway network as outlined in the Government’s Transport 21 plan by connecting Dublin to the five major urban centres of Belfast (M1/Border), Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

The M7 Castletown to Nenagh Motorway stretches from the townland of Derrinsallagh in County Laois, south of Borris-in-Ossory to the townland to Ballintotty, east of the Nenagh Bypass, in North Tipperary. It joins the existing M7 Dublin to Limerick Motorway at the northern end at the M7 Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway, and the existing M7 Nenagh to Limerick Motorway at the most easterly junction of the Nenagh Bypass in North Tipperary.