M50 Upgrade Now Complete
Transformation Of The M50 Motorway Completed Within Budget And Four Months Ahead Of Schedule
The Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey, T.D., will today open the completed 32km M50 Upgrade Scheme that has transformed the M50 from a two-lane heavily congested road with toll barriers and signaled interchanges into a modern free-flowing motorway that has reduced journey times by up to 50%. The upgraded M50 has resulted in shorter, more reliable and safer journeys that improve commuters’ quality of life, increase efficiency for businesses and help Dublin to be more competitive in order to attract more foreign inward investment. The one billion euro project was carried out over four and a half years, in the midst of 100,000 moving vehicles per day and was completed four months ahead of schedule. The final section of the upgraded M50 Motorway, the new and improved M3 Interchange, will open to traffic today for the first time at 5.30pm this evening, Wednesday 1st September.
“This upgrade scheme will future proof the M50 by helping to reduce traffic congestion and providing very significant time savings for hard pressed motorists,” said Mr. Noel Dempsey, T.D., Minister for Transport.
“I particularly thank the regular M50 motorists for their patience during the construction phase of this project. It was not easy for anyone as this huge engineering project got underway and I think you will agree that the upgrade has made a real difference and was worth the wait. This investment and the billions more that we are spending on the provision of world class transport infrastructure is helping to boost our national competitiveness. This Government will continue to invest in transport because we are committed to having the proper infrastructure in place to make the most of our economic recovery.”
“The transformation of the M50 has dramatically improved the daily commuting experience for every road user in and around Greater Dublin. The M50 Upgrade has proven its value to the entire national network by fulfilling its role as the key motorway hub linking Greater Dublin with the major Interurban Network, benefitting all strategic traffic from wherever they are travelling. It truly is the backbone of our national roads network,” said Mr. Peter Malone, Chairman, National Roads Authority.
“I congratulate all those who contributed to the planning, design and construction of the M50 Upgrade; it was a highly challenging project that is in an engineering and construction triumph. The entire M50 project could not have been accomplished if it were not for the patience and support of the general public and the dedication of all national and local governmental organisations, including South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the National Roads Authority, the Department of Transport and the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, TD.”
“The M50 Motorway is now amongst the highest quality modern road infrastructure in Europe and we in M50 Concession Ltd are very proud to have helped deliver such an important venture that enhances Ireland’s economic and social development and improves the quality of life for road users,” said Mr. Javier Galera, General Manager, M50 Concession Ltd.
The M50 Upgrade Scheme comprises:-
• Widening of 32km of motorway from two to three-lane standard in each direction between Junction 3 (M1) and Junction 14 (Sandyford)
• An additional fourth auxiliary lane in each direction between Junction 3 (M1) and Junction 12 (Scholarstown)
• Full free-flow interchange at four junctions Jct 3 (M1), Jct 5 (N2 Ashbourne/Finglas), Jct 7 (N4 Palmerstown), Jct 9 (N7 Red Cow)
• Partial free-flow interchange at six other junctions Jct 4 (Ballymun), Jct 6 (N3 Blanchardstown), Jct 10 (Ballymount), Jct 11 (N81 Tallaght), Jct 12 (Scholarstown), Jct 14 (Sandyford)
• Removal of the West-Link toll plaza to provide barrier free tolling
• Establishing a segregated corridor for Luas at Jct 9 (N7 Red Cow), thus removing the need for traffic and trams to cross each other.
The removal of the West-Link Toll Plaza and its replacement with a fully electronic barrier-free tolling system was a crucial element of the strategy for easing congestion on Ireland’s busiest roadway allowing drivers to travel unencumbered at the legal speed limit along the M50. As we reach the second anniversary of the commencement of barrier-free tolling, traffic volumes on the toll section are approaching an average of 100,000 vehicles per day, equating to 2.9 million transactions being processed per month.
Since the commencement of e-flow over 3 million individual vehicles have used the system. Almost 75% of trips on the toll section of the M50 are by motorists who have opened a toll account with 60% of customers having an electronic tag account and 15% availing of the video account option. The account option allows motorists to avail of lower toll rates than available for motorists who choose not to have an account. The revenue raised through e-flow tolling is being used to fund the M50 motorway upgrade costs along with the future operation and maintenance costs of the road.
The M50 Upgrade Scheme was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan and Transport 21 and was delivered through the National Roads Authority’s PPP mechanism.
The NRA appointed M50 Construction Ltd as the PPP partner to deliver Contract 2, to upgrade 24km of motorway between Jct 3 and Jct 6 and between Jct 10 and Jct 14, and operating and maintaining the full M50 Motorway from Jct 3 to Jct 17 for 35 years, until 2042. M50 Concession Ltd is a Joint Venture that comprises of Spanish Infrastructure Developers Global Via Infraestructuras S.A. (GVI) and Sacyr Concessions Ltd. and Irish firm PJ Hegarty & Sons Ltd.
Contract 1, the upgrading of the 8km section between Jct 7 (N4 Palmerstown) and Jct 10 (Ballymount) was carried out by SIAC Ferrovial M50 Joint Venture, comprising Irish firm SIAC and Spanish firm Ferrovial Agroman S.A. This section of the M50 Upgrade Scheme included the transformation of Junction 9, the infamous Red Cow Interchange, to a free flowing interchange with a segregated corridor for LUAS. Contract 3, the removal of the West-Link Toll Plaza and widening of the motorway between Jct 6 and Jct 7, was delivered by Jons Civil Engineering Ltd.
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Sean O’Neill, NRA, 086-823 0600