Carlow Bypass Opens On Time and On Budget
The Carlow Bypass was officially opened today (Thursday 29th May 2008) by the Minister for Transport Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D.
The €216.5m bypass is the first section of the N9 Dublin to Waterford major inter-urban route to open to traffic. Work on the entire route is on schedule to open in 2010.
The new 18.5km bypass stretches from Prumplestown, south of Castledermot in County Kildare, passes to the east and south of Carlow Town as far as Powerstown.
The scheme, which commenced construction in July 2006, took 22 months to complete.
Performing the official opening Minister Dempsey said,"The opening of the Carlow bypass today is very welcome news for the people of Carlow town and county. This new bypass will remove through traffic of over 9,000 vehicles a day from Carlow streets and will give the town back to locals. This new route around the town for all those whose business is elsewhere along the N9 will deliver journey time-savings of up to 30 minutes in peak time traffic. By delivering this bypass in time and on budget Government is achieving three important targets – removing through traffic, improving access to and from towns and villages in the area and, most importantly, improving road safety."
Connectivity within the region will be greatly enhanced by the Carlow Bypass because the scheme provides three new junctions; at Powerstown in Carlow to cater for N9 Waterford/Kilkenny traffic, at the Rathcrogue junction on the N80 to provide a crucial link between the N9 and the strategic N80 cross country national secondary route which runs from Wexford to Moate in County Westmeath and at Prumplestown in Kildare on the N9 to allow south bound traffic bypass Carlow Town.
Mr.Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority commented at the official opening cermony,
“The opening of the Carlow Bypass marks the first stage of the N9 Dublin to Waterford major inter- urban to be completed and is indicative of the standard of national road that will serve the southeast into the future. The benefits of the Carlow Bypass locally will be immediate reducing travel times and congestion. On a national scale the new bypass will substantially improve access to the southeast region and will facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people and goods between the gateway city of Waterford and the hub towns of Kilkenny and Wexford identified in the National Spatial Strategy.
The Dublin to Waterford corridor is on target for completion to motorway standard by 2010 and this super- highway will enrich the business and social texture of the south and east region bringing communities closer and enhancing tourist potential while contributing to our economic competitiveness. High quality infrastructure also plays an important role in ensuring the diffusion of growth throughout the regions of Ireland and underpins the realisation of successful economic and social cohesion. The national road dimension of the Government’s Transport 21 Plan is on target and will deliver a key element in underpinning Ireland’s competitiveness.”
Kildare County Council managed the project on behalf of the National Roads Authority working in conjunction with Carlow County Council and the contractor Ascon Ltd.
The Carlow Bypass was funded by the Irish Government 2007 -2013 and part financed by the European Union.
A spokesperson is available for comment, Sean O' Neill (086) 8230600