Minister Coughlan Opens Phase Two of the N56 Mountain Top to Illistrin Scheme in Donegal
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan TD, today opened Phase two of the N56 Mountaintop to Illistrin road in Donegal. The Minister said that the success of this project s reflected in the fact that improvement was finished 12 months ahead of schedule, and on budget at a cost of €29.59 million.
This entire 5km stretch has been constructed in two phases. Phase 1, which is 1.5km in length, was completed in September last year and incorporates a major new roundabout at the Calhame junction. Phase 2 is 3.5km in length and extends from the Calhame Junction, continuing to Illistrin.
Minister Coughlan said that the recent opening of the N2 Castleblayney Bypass, coupled with other high-quality road infrastructure projects such as N2 Carrickmacross and Monaghan Bypasses and the completed motorway schemes on the M1, provides an important step forward towards a rapid and predictable road transport artery from Derry and Donegal to Dublin.
“The improvement of the infrastructure to Donegal and its surrounding area will make Donegal and the North West region as a whole a more attractive location for enterprise creation, particularly as it marks the transition from traditional to more modern and higher value added industries. We have the beautiful scenery and plentiful hotel and guesthouse accommodation. Improved infrastructure will also greatly enhance Donegal as a tourist destination.” said the Minister.
The development of the Atlantic Road Corridor from Letterkenny through Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford will connect the National Spatial Strategy Gateway Cities. It has been a longstanding concept in the national roads upgrade programme and has now been re-enforced by Transport 21. It is envisaged that the route will be upgraded substantially to dual carriageway road standard. Schemes already completed in Co. Donegal on this route include the N15 Bundoran Ballyshannon Bypass and N15 – Clar/Barnesmore. Other schemes are at varying stages of the planning process, including the N14/N13 Junction (Manorcunningham) to Lifford / Stabane and N15 Ballybofey/ Stranorlar Bypass.
Minister Coughlan said that her colleague Mr. Brian Cowen TD Minister for Finance announced in April that the Irish Government has made available funding of €580 million towards road improvements in Northern Ireland. Together with the UK Treasury funding, this will support an unprecedented package of infrastructure investment, including a major new roads programme to provide dual carriageway standard on routes within Northern Ireland serving the north west gateway of Letterkenny and Derry and on the eastern seaboard corridor from Belfast to Larne. The agreement to develop a dual carriageway standard road to Derry and Donegal removes the single greatest impediment to the future development of the north west and the border counties.
Minister Coughlan added that the BMW region national road investment is at an all-time high. Projects under construction include the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe, Phase 2 of the N6 Kinnegad/Athlone, and the N6 Ballinasloe to Athlone. Recently the N5 Charlestown Bypass, N2 Clontibret to Castleblayney and the N4 Dromod/Rooskey were opened. Schemes at varying stages of the planning process include the N3 Belturbet Bypass, N17 Tubbercurry Bypass and N17 Tuam Bypass amongst others. The upgrading of our national transport network is a key element in enhancing regional accessibility and more balanced regional development.
Under Transport 21, €1.53 billion of funding is being provided for the National Roads Programme in 2007. It is the largest single annual investment in roads and this level of investment will be maintained in 2008. A total of over €16 billion will be spent on national roads during the lifetime of Transport 21, equivalent to more than €125 million every month.
The Minister added “What is common to all the national road projects, whether big or small, is that they make for safer roads. Road safety is of paramount importance and better quality roads make for easier, safer, road journeys in less built-up traffic. The high quality dual carriageways and motorways we have been building have been proven to be seven times safer than the roads they replace. By opening over 100km of new roads in 2007, we are adding to the safety of our national road network. In remembering to slow down, fasten safety belts and never ever drink and drive, we should bear in mind that when we get behind the wheel, our lives, and those of other road users, depend on our behavior.”
Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority commented: “The completion of phase two of the N56 Mountain Top to Illistrin scheme marks another milestone in the continuing development of the national road infrastructure in the Border, Midland and Western Region. The N56 is the main link from Northwest Donegal to Letterkenny and the rest of the country and demonstrates the National Road Authority’s commitment to balanced regional development in line with Government policy. The benefits of this scheme will have a huge impact locally – improving safety and access to the region. This new road will encourage commercial development and improve the tourism potential of this wonderfully scenic area. It is important that we have a vision for the future in order to remain competitive. The development of the Atlantic road corridor from Letterkenny through Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford, under the Transport 21 Plan, will ensure that the northwest will be in a position to capitalise on opportunities in the future.”
In conclusion, Minister Coughlan thanked everybody who was involved in the successful completion of this project, including Noel Regan & Sons, Grontmij/Carl Bro-Bridge Design, Golder Associates/Soft Ground, the NRA and Donegal County Council, their staffs and anybody else who had a role in bringing this project to fruition.
The Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 financed this scheme.
Ends
A spokesperson is available for comment:
Sean O’ Neill, National Roads Authority, (086) 8230600