N18/N19 to open November 7th

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N18 Hurlers Cross/N19 Shannon Access scheme is scheduled to open on November 7th, 2003.

http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/SchemesUnderConstructionin2003/

Victor

Map http://www.nra.ie/News/DownloadableDocumentation/d939.PDF

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/d938.HTML.html

Clare and Shannon Airport to Benefit from New Road

The opening today (Friday, 7th November, 2003) of the €100m N18 Hurlers Cross/N19 Shannon Access road scheme is a major boost to the west of Ireland and county Clare in particular according to the Chairman of the National Roads Authority, Mr. Peter Malone.

Mr. Malone said, “The scheme will bring improved access to Limerick, the Shannon area and its international airport and to the tourist amenities of West Clare. The new road will significantly improve safety and journey times and contribute to conditions facilitating sustainable growth in the region.

There is now continuous dual carriageway from the outskirts of Limerick City to Dromoland Interchange south of Ennis and to Shannon Airport and Town Centre as well as the major industrial operations in the area.

Almost 100 km of new roadway, including schemes like Knock-Claremorris and Ballycasey to Dromoland have now been completed on the Western Corridor section of the Trans-European Road Network, which extends from Sligo to Galway to Limerick and on to Wexford. Representing over a quarter of a billion euro investment, the achievement demonstrates the National Roads Authority’s commitment to the development of national roads in the West of Ireland.

Substantial further progress is being pursued under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2000-2006, with 20 major new projects in planning on the Western Corridor. The Authority hopes to commence the Ennis By-Pass in the Spring of next year and to complete the Limerick Southern Ring Road, Phase 1 scheme around the same time. The completion of the southern by-pass of Limerick City took an important step forward with the publication last week of the Compulsory Purchase Order and Environmental Impact Statement for the final section (Phase 2) of the route which will incorporate a tunnel under the Shannon Estuary. These schemes will do much to improve living and working conditions in the Limerick-Shannon-Ennis area,” Mr. Malone concluded.

The N18 Hurlers Cross/N19 Shannon Access scheme consists of 9 km of dual carriageway, 3 km of single carriageway and a junction at Smithstown. The new route extends from the end of the existing dual carriageway at the Bunratty By-Pass to the south and links to the N18 Newmarket-on-Fergus By-Pass to the north, which was completed in 2002.

Clare County Manager, Mr. Alex Fleming, said "The successful completion of this new scheme 3 months ahead of schedule marks a further major milestone in the improvement of infrastructure in the County. The improved access between Ennis, Limerick and Shannon immediately enhances economic opportunities for the region bringing benefits to all road users, including private, commercial and tourist by improving service and access. This project will provide a high quality road bringing much needed traffic relief on this section of the N18/N19. An important aspect of the scheme is the reduction in travel times for motorists and the improvement this will bring to the local environment."

Mr. Michael Tobin, Chief Executive of the NRA, said, "The scale of national road building activity in the Clare and Limerick areas further demonstrates the NRA's commitment to progressing balanced regional development and to making the National Spatial Strategy a reality. High quality infrastructure is the lifeblood of competitiveness and sustainable growth. Projects such as this, together with the planned construction of the Ennis By-Pass and a Southern Ring Road around Limerick City, help promote the region and greatly enhance the attractiveness and viability of Shannon Airport, the main economic driver in the area.”

The scheme was funded under the NDP and by the European Regional Development Fund.