N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension Opens Dec 18th

cargo

If you know the area and you know the story of this construction project you'll know this is a very welcome announcement!!!!

Think this was actually the last project signed before fixed price contracts / penalties etc were introduced and it certainly showed why the change was necessary. Contractor walked off site not once but twice during the project duration over fee rows and a railway order did a good job of adding to the general slowness of the project also. (4.2 kms)

From AARaodwatch.ie

N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension Opens Dec 18th

Updated: 17/12/2007 12:26:04

On Tues 18th December, the new N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension will open to traffic at 2pm.

The new roadway will allow traffic to travel from the Carlow Road to the Castlecomer Road without entering the city.

Motorists are advised to drive with care, to comply with speed limits and to use the new facility safely.

From http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/KilkennyCountyCouncil/N77KilkennyRingRoadExtension/SchemeName,10918,en.html


Description: The scheme consists of 4.2 km of wide single carriageway construction from the existing Carlow Road roundabout to a new roundabout north of Glendine on the Castlecomer Road. It involves a new bridge over the Kilkenny-Dublin Railway.

spacetweek

cargo wrote: »

If you know the area and you know the story of this construction project you'll know this is a very welcome announcement!!!!

Think this was actually the last project signed before fixed price contracts / penalties etc were introduced and it certainly showed why the change was necessary. Contractor walked off site not once but twice during the project duration over fee rows and a railway order did a good job of adding to the general slowness of the project also. (4.2 kms)

Indeed this one seems to have been under construction forever. What was the total time taken in the end?

cargo

From www.kilkennycoco.ie/resources/eng/Roads%20Info%20May%202007.doc

N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension
Construction on the 4km Kilkenny Ring Road extension commenced in June 2005 and is planned to be substantially completed this coming summer. Much progress has taken place since the beginning of this year. Work on the construction of the Ballyfoyle Road Bridge is to commence within a couple of weeks and work on the railway crossing is now taking place

Victor

cargo wrote: »

Contractor walked off site not once but twice during the project duration over fee rows and a railway order did a good job of adding to the general slowness of the project also. (4.2 kms)

Contractors don't leave sites without good reason. I would be slow to attribute blame until the facts come out.

cargo

Didn't say it was their fault. (sorry if the tone implied it)

I think a lot of people locally (don't live there myself but have good connections) lay the blame at local council, politicians, contractor anyone they can cause they've waited so long for it to open. It gets frustrating when you see a field opened but nothing happening.

Right gotta go, off to find out where to get cheap diesel on Primetime

Victor

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,11196,en.html

Minister for Trade and Commerce, John McGuinness T.D. has officially opened the €34.5m N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension, today (Tuesday, 18th December 2007).

John McGuinness T.D., Minister for Trade and Commerce, said, “As the city of Kilkenny continues to grow local business and tourism will directly benefit as a result of improvements to the local road infrastructure. The opening of the N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension is another important link, extending the Kilkenny Ring Road from the N10 Carlow Road Roundabout to the N77 Castlecomer Road. This will prove to be of immense value to the future economic growth and development of this thriving city. A total length of just 4km, I am acutely aware of the positive impact this scheme will have in my home city by reducing journey times. In a wider context regional connectivity will also be greatly enhanced. All road users will benefit along with the private, commercial and tourist sectors as a result of improved access along the route coupled with safer road conditions and a better quality of life for city folk.

Under Transport 21, the Government’s investment plans for transport will not just benefit Kilkenny but the whole of the Southeast region. The Dublin to Waterford motorway will be completed in 2010. This will significantly aid the movement of people and goods within the region and ensure that Kilkenny City and the Southeast remains competitive into the next decade.”

Peter Malone, Chairman, National Roads Authority commented: “As a growing centre of commerce and tourism the city of Kilkenny will benefit directly from the completion of the N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension because it is a key component in allowing for better distribution of national and regional traffic around Kilkenny city. Throughout the country I have seen tremendous benefits brought to towns and cities and for Kilkenny specifically, it will create a safer and more pleasant environment for locals and the thousands of tourists who flock to this historic city. It is important for the NRA to bring quality of life improvements throughout the country by reduced travel times and bringing you closer to family, businesses, and other transportation options. The provision of world-class infrastructure is critical if Ireland is to remain competitive. The NRA, under the Government’s Transport 21 Plan, is committed to improving the national road network serving the southeast resulting in shorter travel times, certainty of journey duration and safer road conditions and ultimately a better future."

The Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007 – 2013 financed this scheme.

ends

gally74

used this road for the first time this weekend!

brillant, took 10 to 20 mins and stress levels off our trip,

its great not to be getting stuck in those small streets!:)

jd

Travelled from Johnswell to Wexford Town on Christmas Morning, great not to have to go through town in the future.
jd