September 2010

The following developments took place in September 2010:


HEAVY RAIL

Navan Rail Line Phase 1

Phase 1 of the Navan Rail Line (Clonsilla – Dunboyne) was officially opened by Noel Dempsey T.D., Minister for Transport, on 2 September 2010.


ROADS

M50 Upgrade Phase 2

The final 25km section of the upgraded M50 Motorway, the new and improved M3 Interchange, was opened to traffic on 1 September. This completes the 32km, one billion euro M50 upgrade project that was delivered four months ahead of schedule in the midst of traffic of 100,000 vehicles per day.

M9 Carlow to Knocktopher

The M9 Motorway from Carlow to Knocktopher was officially opened on 9 September 2010. This new 40km section of motorway completes the fourth inter-urban motorway by connecting Waterford and Dublin. The completion of the Carlow to Knocktopher scheme is estimated to save approximately 30 minutes at peak journey times. Overall it is now estimated that it will take approximately 90 minutes to travel from Dublin (M50) to Waterford City. This scheme came in on budget at €467 million and 3 months ahead of schedule. Additionally, this motorway will remove unnecessary through traffic from Stoneyford, Knocktopher, Kilkenny City, Paulstown, Gowran, Dungarvan and Thomastown giving back to all these communities their respective village, town and city centres.

M1 Service Areas Lusk and Castlebellingham

Two new service areas on the M1 at Lusk and Castlebellingham opened respectively on 15 and 29 September 2010, the first such purpose built facilities in Ireland. These provide a welcome step forward in terms of improving the facilities offered to drivers on the motorway network.

M7 Nenagh to Limerick

The M7 Nenagh to Limerick Motorway was officially opened on 28 September 2010, resulting in safer journeys and time savings for the 20,000 vehicles travelling the new 38km section between Limerick and Nenagh every day. The €424 million project was funded by the Irish exchequer under the National Development Plan and Transport 21 and by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.

The final section of the M7, from Castletown in County Laois to Nenagh, will open later this year completing the M7 Inter Urban Motorway between Limerick and Dublin.