[PR] Minister Cullen Turns Sod on 16 km Castleblayney Bypass

Victor · 01-12-2005 10:04PM #1

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,1931,en.html

Minister Cullen Turns Sod on 16 km Castleblayney Bypass
28th November, 2005

“Transport 21 connecting communities, promoting prosperity”

Transport Minister Martin Cullen, T.D, was in Monaghan today (Monday, 28th November 2005) where he turned the sod on the Clontibret-Castleblayney Bypass, marking yet another milestone in bringing the national roads infrastructure into the 21st century and in upgrading, in particular, a key route - the N2 - serving the Border and North West regions. The 16 km bypass project is the first greenfield 2+1 road to go to construction. The estimated cost of the project is €115 million.

Minister Cullen said:

“In recent years, the volumes of commercial and other vehicles travelling through Castleblayney and Clontibret have caused severe congestion and delays. The bypass will provide increased through-traffic capacity to the west of Castleblayney, while returning the town to its people. It will enhance the quality of life in the town and will also allow the visitor and local person alike to enjoy even more the wonderful recreational facilities of the Lough Muckno area which has been aptly called the ‘Killarney of the North’. ”

The N2 National Primary Route is the main arterial route from Dublin to Derry, Donegal and the northwest and the section from Ardee to north of Emyvale forms part of the Trans-European Road Network. This project together with the Ashbourne Bypass which is nearing completion, the Carrickmacross Bypass - opened to traffic in January of this year - and the Monaghan Bypass project which is schedule to open in 2006 will ensure that the N2 is a high quality route to and from the Border and North West region.

The improvements completed and underway on the N2 together with the upgraded M1 will ensure a high level of service not only to the people of Monaghan but also the many people travelling to and from Donegal, Derry and Dublin.

The 2+1 road type that forms this Bypass provides safe two-lane overtaking zones, which alternate with one-lane sections, at intervals of approximately 2 km. The traffic streams are separated by a safety barrier which prevents overtaking manoeuvres on the single-lane sections. Right turning will only be permitted at designated junctions to reduce the number of conflict areas and to enhance safety.

Speaking on the Government’s €34.4 billion investment in Transport 21, Minister Cullen said:

“Building on the good work done in upgrading our transport infrastructure in recent years Transport 21 represents an intensification and strengthening of the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Ireland has a transport network to match and support its buoyant economy. The objective of Transport 21 is nothing less than a transformation of Ireland’s transport network. A good transport system is vital for competitiveness, more balanced regional development and job creation.”

A central theme of Transport 21 is connectivity, including connectivity with the transport network of Northern Ireland and connectivity with the Border counties. Transport 21 addresses this, in particular in relation to road connections, by upgrading the strategic roads with Northern Ireland and to the North-West, and by upgrading the Atlantic Corridor running from Letterkenny/Lifford to Waterford via Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Cork.

Minister Cullen stated that in this geographical region Transport 21 provides for major improvement works on the N2 – which is well underway - and on the N3. The M1 route is practically complete with work underway on the remaining section to Newry.

In addition targeted improvement and renewal works will be undertaken over the period of Transport 21 on key national secondary routes such as the N52 from Dundalk to Nenagh.

Transport 21 also includes significant funding for the development of provincial bus services, including the upgrading of regional and local bus services.

Rural areas of the country including in the Border region, can also expect to benefit from the upgrading of regional bus services and the decision to put the Rural Transport Initiative on a permanent footing from 2007. Funding for RTI will be doubled by 2007 and increased steadily thereafter.

Gama – Tubin Construction Ltd. won the contract and will commence work on the project immediately. The project is due to be completed in Autumn 2007.

Mr. Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority said:

“A major transformation of the road network serving the North East and North West of the country is now taking place. The latest scheme to get underway is the Castleblayney Bypass on the N2. The project is the first green field “2 plus 1” road type to go to construction. The road design incorporates safe two-lane overtaking zones that alternate between carriageways at about 2 km intervals. Experience in other countries, notably Sweden, shows that this road type can reduce road accident fatalities by 50%. The National Roads Authority is advancing a programme of similar roads here as part of its commitment to saving lives and reducing the incidence of road accidents. The North East and county Monaghan, in particular, have benefited from the opening of the Carrickmacross bypass earlier this year. The Castleblayney scheme is a further welcome addition to the road infrastructure of the area, which also stands to gain from the scheduled completion next year of the Monaghan Bypass Phase 1.”

For further information please contact NRA Press Office 01 6602511

Victor · 01-12-2005 10:18PM

http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=7130&lang=ENG&loc=1850

Cullen turns sod on 16kms Castleblayney Bypass
29 November 2005

"Transport 21 connecting communities, promoting prosperity"

Transport Minister Martin Cullen, T.D, was in Monaghan today (Monday, 28th November 2005) where he turned the sod on the Clontibret-Castleblayney Bypass, marking yet another milestone in bringing the national roads infrastructure into the 21st century and in upgrading, in particular, a key route - the N2 - serving the Border and North West regions. The 16km bypass project is the first greenfield 2+1 road to go to construction. The estimated cost of the project is €115 million.

Minister Cullen said: "In recent years, the volumes of commercial and other vehicles travelling through Castleblayney and Clontibret have caused severe congestion and delays. The bypass will provide increased through-traffic capacity to the west of Castleblayney, while returning the town to its people. It will enhance the quality of life in the town and will also allow the visitor and local person alike to enjoy even more the wonderful recreational facilities of the Lough Muckno area which has been aptly called the 'Killarney of the North'. "

The N2 National Primary Route is the main arterial route from Dublin to Derry, Donegal and the northwest and the section from Ardee to north of Emyvale forms part of the Trans-European Road Network. This project together with the Ashbourne Bypass which is nearing completion, the Carrickmacross Bypass - opened to traffic in January of this year - and the Monaghan Bypass project which is schedule to open in 2006 will ensure that the N2 is a high quality route to and from the Border and North West region.

The improvements completed and underway on the N2 together with the upgraded M1 will ensure a high level of service not only to the people of Monaghan but also the many people travelling to and from Donegal, Derry and Dublin.

The 2+ 1 road type that forms this Bypass provides safe two-lane overtaking zones, which alternate with one-lane sections, at intervals of approximately 2 kms. The traffic streams are separated by a safety barrier which prevents overtaking manoeuvres on the single-lane sections. Right turning will only be permitted at designated junctions to reduce the number of conflict areas and to enhance safety.

Speaking on the Government's €34.4 billion investment in Transport 21, Minister Cullen said: "Building on the good work done in upgrading our transport infrastructure in recent years Transport 21 represents an intensification and strengthening of the Government's commitment to ensuring that Ireland has a transport network to match and support its buoyant economy. The objective of Transport 21 is nothing less than a transformation of Ireland's transport network. A good transport system is vital for competitiveness, more balanced regional development and job creation."

A central theme of Transport 21 is connectivity, including connectivity with the transport network of Northern Ireland and connectivity with the Border counties. Transport 21 addresses this, in particular in relation to road connections, by upgrading the strategic roads with Northern Ireland and to the North-West, and by upgrading the Atlantic Corridor running from Letterkenny/Lifford to Waterford via Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Cork.

Minister Cullen stated that in this geographical region Transport 21 provides for major improvement works on the N2 - which is well underway - and on the N3. The M1 route is practically complete with work underway on the remaining section to Newry.

In addition targeted improvement and renewal works will be undertaken over the period of Transport 21 on key national secondary routes such as the N52 from Dundalk to Nenagh.

Transport 21 also includes significant funding for the development of provincial bus services, including the upgrading of regional and local bus services.

Rural areas of the country including in the Border region, can also expect to benefit from the upgrading of regional bus services and the decision to put the Rural Transport Initiative on a permanent footing from 2007. Funding for RTI will be doubled by 2007 and increased steadily thereafter.

Gama - Tubin Construction Ltd. won the contract and will commence work on the project immediately. The project is due to be completed in Autumn 2007.

Mr. Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority said: "A major transformation of the road network serving the North East and North West of the country is now taking place. The latest scheme to get underway is the Castleblayney Bypass on the N2. The project is the first green field "2 plus 1"road type to go to construction.

The road design incorporates safe two-lane overtaking zones that alternate between carriageways at about 2 km intervals. Experience in other countries, notably Sweden, shows that this road type can reduce road accident fatalities by 50%. The National Roads Authority is advancing a programme of similar roads here as part of its commitment to saving lives and reducing the incidence of road accidents. The North East and County Monaghan, in particular, have benefited from the opening of the Carrickmacross bypass earlier this year. The Castleblayney scheme is a further welcome addition to the road infrastructure of the area, which also stands to gain from the scheduled completion next year of the Monaghan Bypass Phase 1."

ENDS