M11 - Arklow/Gorey Bypass

PoolDude

The Gorey Bypass has now been put out to tender. The deadline for submissions of interest was last Thursday.

The Rathnew to Arklow piece had its oral hearing in Arklow between the 2nd and 4th November. The Council is now awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála. The deadline date for this is 31st January 2005.

PoolDude

I note that the NRA have updated their web page today and are indicating that the Gorey Bypass will commence construction this year and confirm that a decision is pending from ABP regarding the Rahnew - Arklow section.

Link:
Please click here for National Roads Authority Review of 2004 Activities and National Roads Programme for 2005 in PDF.

www.nra.ie

loyatemu

can't come soon enough - Gorey is an absolute nightmare!

jd

When the Gorey bye-pass is finished, the congestion will move to Ferns. A T-junction, with traffic from Wexford having to give way to local traffic (Ferns->Bunclody) AFAIR.:rolleyes:

PoolDude

Got this today from Wexford CC Roads:

The present postion is as follows
· Contract documents are being prepared on an ongoing basis.

· The detailed Site Investigation Contract is in progress and will be completed by March 2005.

· The necessary Well Monitoring Programme is in progress.

· Works on site have been completed for the Archaeo-geophysical Survey Contract and the report thereon is being compiled.

· The Archaeological Assessment Contract is in progress and will be completed in the coming weeks. The Archaeological Resolution Contract will commence in March 2005 with an expected completion date of 2005.

· The Temporary Fencing Contract is in progress and will be completed in the coming weeks.

· The pre-qualification process for the D & B Main Contract to reduce the number of contractors who expressed interest in the project to 5 has now been completed and tender documents will issue to the successful 5 contractors in March 2005. It is expected that following the tender process the work on the ground will commence in the coming Autumn

Expected completion is 2008.

jd

dmeehan wrote:

(very similar to the bottom of the hill in Rathnew)

I have such fond memories of that precise ****hole- 20 years ago or so thumbing back to wexford and darkness is falling..

loyatemu

loyatemu wrote:

can't come soon enough - Gorey is an absolute nightmare!

Left for ballymoney at Garden centre at the first crossroads before Gorey
Right at next cross a mile into the tesco roundabout
Turn left there heading for Courtown-straight for a couple hundred metres and turn right just at the edge of the tesco building.
Follow that road to a T junction about 2 miles on and turn right which brings you onto the Wexford road a mile south of Gorey.
To go direct to Wexford turn left.
If you want to go to Ferns or Enniscorthy...
There is a nother road directly across from you about a few metres to the left so if you join the wexford road there and turn right up on to that road it will bring you straight to Clogh.

Having done this on a friday you will be happy (no traffic jam-no queue-no delay)

· The Temporary Fencing Contract is in progress and will be completed in the coming weeks.

It will in it's aunt Sally!!! they've been given an extra month also...
The contractor is coillte, they were given the contract because they were the cheapest and guess what, they never fenced before ever in their lives...!!
This was pointed out at a public meeting in Inch.
They've subbed half the fencing to a local contractor now who is busy trying to show the coillte boys how to put down a stake :rolleyes:

PoolDude

Latest on Gorey Bypass:
5 selected bidders have been chosen for final bidding.
Fencing is complete.
On Track to start construction in the Autumn

Latest on Rathnew - Arklow section:
6 week appeal period post ABP approval has passed
Still expected to start construction next year.

Latest on Enniscorthy Bypass
I doubt we will see it resurface until the next election :-)

If anybody has anything else, please share

Victor

There is a map of the gorey bypass included here http://www.thrdo.com/EISadvert.pdf

PoolDude

Latest Update on Gorey Bypass:

Regarding the N11 Gorey to Arklow Link -

Site Investigation (Phase 1) Contract is completed

Well Monitoring Programme is ongoing

The Archaeological Resolution Contracts (Excavation of 61 sites) is ongoing and will be completed by Mid-September

We have received tenders for the Main Contract from the 5 short listed tenderers and these are currently being assessed.
We expect to enter in to a contract in September and work should be completed in 2008.

PoolDude

Apparently all the bids are in and were discussed at last weeks council meeting, there is a difference of €32m between the highest and lowest bids.

murphaph

Having driven to Wexford for the first time in years just last week, I can say that Gorey is a hole for traffic, especially after getting used to the non-stop run from the M50! The bypass can't come soon enough.

It seems that the southern portion of the Enniscorthy bypass will be single carriageway only so looks like no further serious dual carriageway work will take place on the N11/N25 corridor to Rosslare.

PoolDude

Just got this from Wexford CC, anyone know if this crowd have a rep for completing ahead of schedule?

The contract for the Gorey/Arklow Link has now been signed.

The successful contractor is Roadbridge Ltd and work is expected to commence in early November.

murphaph

Will the Arklow-Gorey link be completed before the Gorey bypass then?

D'Peoples Voice

PoolDude wrote:

Just got this from Wexford CC, anyone know if this crowd have a rep for completing ahead of schedule?

The contract for the Gorey/Arklow Link has now been signed.

The successful contractor is Roadbridge Ltd and work is expected to commence in early November.

Was it not roadbridge who built the monasteravin by-pass? I think it was, and yes they finished ahead of schedule!

loyatemu

the arklow-gorey link is the gorey bypass, isn't it?
http://www.nra.ie/News/DownloadableDocumentation/file,1318,en.PDF

murphaph

Good spot loyatemu. Looks like it is the same scheme, be nice to see the bit north of Arklow getting built. The N11 is the quiet man of road upgrades.

jd

The bit between rathnew and arklow by pass is inthe planning stages, i think. By late 2008 it should be dual carriageway from clogh->m50->newry, I believe

PoolDude

This was the last I had on that stretch. It is on track still to start construction early next week:

An Bord Pleanála approved the road on 31st January 2005. WE are now into the eight week judicial review period within which any aggrieved party can challenge any aspects of the decision through the courts. If such action is not taken within this period then the Road Scheme is finally confirmed. WCC is then free to commence construction of the scheme. At present we are aiming to start construction of the Road in 2006 with construction completed in 2008. Construction of the N11 Arklow Gorey Link will start this year and should be completed before the N11 Rathnew Arklow scheme. These schemes together with the completion of the M50 and the M1/N1 around Dundalk and Newry will mean that continuous motorway/dual carriageway will be available for use between Newry and Camolin Co Wexford before the end of 2008.

PoolDude

Some of the site offices have now been set up for the Groey bypass so they look to be on track to commence construction in November.

Also Wexford CC voted unanimously to request that the NRA build dual carriageway from where the Gorey bypass ends near Camolin to Rosslare. It doesn't mean it will ever happen but it would be nice as there are currently no plans for this, its to be single carriageway all they way including the Enniscorthy bypass.

I understand some work has commenced on the Gorey bypass.
It should be in full swing in the next month or so.
I know this because I'm involved as one of the land owners,none of whom to my knowledge have been paid yet for land which has been fenced off and taken from them over six months ago-Theres one law for the government when they owe money and another one when they are owed money :rolleyes:
But how and ever I understand that this will be concluded by january,thanks to a big fuss being made about it-A lot of farmers were discommoded which wasnt fair.
And yes it was always called the Gorey to Arklow link.

The bit between rathnew and arklow by pass is inthe planning stages, i think. By late 2008 it should be dual carriageway from clogh->m50->newry, I believe

It's gone well beyond the planning stage.The land has been CPO'ed, the notice to treat(the invite for the land owner to negotiate on price) has been served.

The contracts havent been awarded yet for that one though.
A company called Roadbridge in Limerick are doing the Gorey one and they are notorious for finishing their jobs way ahead of schedule which is good.

jd

[font=Arial, Verdana, Arial]Minister first sod on new Gorey bypass [/font][font=Verdana, Arial]
Minister for Transport and models in photoshoots Martin Cullen will be in Gorey in two weeks' time to officially turn the first sod on the new Gorey bypass. The work is expected to be finished in two years' time.

Preparation work has continued over the past few weeks, for work to begin by November. The landscape at Ballyloughan changed on Monday when hedgerows were removed to allow for a new contractors' compound, which is being put in place adjacent to the road itself.



Don Curtin of the NRA Liason Office confirmed that, contrary to reports that work would be ongoing 24 hours a day, the working hours would be limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Saturdays, with no work on Sundays, except in exceptional circumstances.



It is hoped the bypass will be finished by November 2007.



From the Wexford People[/font]

mike65

As promised above the Minister turned the first sod today roll on Nov 2007.

Mike.

Victor

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1024/bypass.html

Cullen turns sod on Arklow-Gorey bypass
24 October 2005 17:15

The Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, has turned the sod on the new Arklow-Gorey bypass.

The 23km project is expected to be completed by November 2007.

The bypass, which is to cost €179 million to build, will include the construction of three junctions, 15 road bridges and one rail bridge.
Advertisement

Speaking at the sod turning, Mr Cullen said the new road would take up to 10,000 vehicles a day out of Gorey town centre.

The National Roads Authority Chairman, Peter Malone, said the need for the bypass was demonstrated by a 13% rise in traffic volumes on the N11 north of Gorey in the last 12 months.

http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=7034&lang=ENG&loc=1850

Sod turned on new Arklow-Gorey Bypass
24 October 2005

Road will take 10,000 vehicles a day out of Gorey Cullen

Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD has turned the sod on the new Arklow-Gorey bypass. The 22.9km of new dual carriageway will be delivered in two years and take up to 10,000 vehicles a day out of Gorey town centre.

Speaking at the sod turning, Minister Cullen said: The bypassing of Gorey, one of the fastest growing towns in the country, will improve the quality of life of its people. Journey times through the town will be slashed and up to 10,000 vehicles a day will no longer clog the streets.

Equally, projects such as this lets business do business; efficiently moving goods and services to where theyre wanted and when theyre wanted. The benefits will be to the entire area including the villages of Inch and Clogh.

Minister Cullen thanked his Fianna Fáil colleagues, Joe Jacob T.D., Minister Dick Roche, Minister of State, John Browne, Deputy Tony Dempsey and local representatives, who work everyday to deliver for Wexford and Wicklow. We have identified, in consultation with people here in the region, exactly where resource needs arise. Today demonstrates the type of delivery we are committed to for this region, he said.

Commenting on Gorey, the Minister said: The demographic change which Gorey has undergone has been immense. We in Government must respond to this change. We must invest to provide the choice that transport users of the town want, be it for work or leisure. We are doing this in roads and public transport, we will do more of it.

The National Roads Authority Chairman, Peter Malone said: The NRA is in the business of planning and building a top class road network for the future. The last 12 months has seen traffic volumes on the N11, north of Gorey increase by almost 13%. The NRA identified the trend for growing traffic levels on the route and so today sees work commence on the Arklow /Gorey Bypass. This major project will address what is undoubtedly the most congested bottleneck on the Dublin/Wexford route.

The work does not stop there, however. We have well developed plans to further improve the east coast spine. Three more projects are in the pipeline a preferred route has been identified for the Enniscorthy Bypass, plans for a grade separated interchange are well advanced for the Kilpeddar/Delgany area while An Bord Pleanala has cleared the N11 Rathnew/Arklow dual carriageway scheme for construction. When this project is completed motorists will be able to travel from south of Gorey to the Border north of Dundalk on over 200kms of continuous motorway/dual carriageway.

Victor

Map http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/SchemeMaps/file,1869,en.pdf

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,1870,en.html

Sod Turned on New Arklow/Gorey Bypass
24th October, 2005

“Road will take 10,000 vehicles a day out of Gorey” Minister Cullen.

Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD has turned the sod on the new Arklow-Gorey bypass. The 22.9 km of new dual carriageway will be delivered in two years and take up to 10,000 vehicles a day out of Gorey town centre.

Speaking at the sod turning, Minister Cullen said:

“The bypassing of Gorey, one of the fastest growing towns in the country, will improve the quality of life of its people. Journey times through the town will be slashed and up to 10,000 vehicles a day will no longer clog the streets.

Equally, projects such as this let businesses do business; efficiently moving goods and services to where they’re wanted and when they’re wanted. The benefits will be to the entire area including the villages of Inch and Clogh.”

The National Roads Authority Chairman, Peter Malone said:

“The NRA is in the business of planning and building a top class road network for the future. The last 12 months has seen traffic volumes on the N11, north of Gorey, increase by almost 13%. The NRA identified the trend for growing traffic levels on the route, and so today sees work commence on the Arklow/Gorey Bypass. This major project will address what is undoubtedly the most congested bottleneck on the Dublin/Wexford route.

The work does not stop there, however. We have well developed plans to further improve the east coast spine. Three more projects are in the pipeline - a preferred route has been identified for the Enniscorthy Bypass, plans for a grade separated interchange are well advanced for the Kilpeddar/Delgany area, while An Bord Pleanala has cleared the N11 Rathnew/Arklow dual carriageway scheme for construction. When this project is completed motorists will be able to travel from south of Gorey to the Border north of Dundalk on over 200 kms of continuous motorway/dual carriageway.”

PoolDude

Got this from Wicklow CC, I wonder does this mean a delay, I had expected this to have started by now:

I have no further update. Site clearnce and fennce erection is currently in progress. Wicklow County Council is still awaiting clerance from the NRA to Tender.

spacetweek

PoolDude wrote:

My fears may have been confirmed, the recent 2006 NRA plan does not include this project as starting this year. They have also changed the NRA web page to not show projects thru the statutory approval process and only refer to it on schemes in planning area with no dates or details.

I've pinged a few people to try to get more info.

I just checked the NRA plan for this year and the N11 Arklow-Gorey scheme is listed as "under construction" with completion date of 2007.

Edit: Whoops!! Should have read your post properly. You're talking about the Arklow-Rathnew section.

PoolDude

Yes, Arklow - Gorey is flying along, I got a newsletter on that from the construction company the other day but the Arklow - Rathnew project seems to have disappeared off the radar for now.

jd

http://www.unison.ie/enniscorthy_guardian/stories.php3?ca=34&si=1594170&issue_id=13894

Bypass means cows must be moo-ved on N11

Motorists might not be the only users of the new Gorey bypass if a local farmer doesn't find a way of making cows fly to greener pastures.
Work started on the new Gorey bypass behind the farmyard of Norman and Linda Kearney at Frankfort, Clough, this week.
The start of digging has effectively cut the farmer off from his livestock in fields on the other side of the proposed bypass.
The herd of sixty cows now has to be taken out onto the N11 twice a day and moved 100 yards down the road to a temporary access point to the fields where they graze.
When the bypass is completed, the cows will have to negotiate the roundabout at the end of the dual carriageway to get to the faraway greener hills.
'They have given us no other option,' said Linda Kearney. 'They can't give us an underpass because they're already digging down 20 ft about 60 yards from our back door.'
'They can't give us an overbridge, because it would cost less to buy the farm than build the bridge,' she added.
She added that they had tried to resolve the problem with the NRA. 'We've got to the stage where we can't do anything more,' she stated. 'We've met a brick wall every time. They have given us no leeway to continue farming'.
'It's our livelihood. It's where we've lived all our lives,' she added. 'We are fearful for the safety of motorists, the livestock, and of our livelihood'. Six acres of land are now on one side of the bypass with the farmhouse, farmyard, and milking parlour. Forty five acres of grassland are on the other side.
'Since the day they marked out the road, we've been talking to the NRA about this. I am so tired of talking to them,' she added. 'We're just wondering what are the prospects for the future?'

I guess they want the other part of the farm to be bought out by the NRA. I can't see how a 50 acre farm is viable these days . The thought of cattle on the N11 dual carriageway terrifies me!
jd

Chris_533976

I dont care what they say, there is absolutly no reason whatsoever why an underpass cant be put in for the cows. If its near their back door.... then do it away from the back door. Hell they have enough acres to do it.

This would be laughed at in other countries.

mike65

God Almighty, only in this country....is the underpass issue to do with the water table and winter flooding or something?

Mike.

murphaph

You'd imagine they could sell the farmhouse and outbuildings off, strip the milk parlour etc. out and rebuild a new farmhouse and yard on the 45 acre side. just a thought.

Victor

Gorey Arklow - Newsletter 1

The Sisco Kid

Noticed last week that they are making really good progress on the Gorey bypass, especially on the southern end (overbridges complete over the Ballycanew road and the backroad beside it - Knockduff?). I also noticed the works at the fruit farm on the northern side of Gorey (will this be the location of the southbound exit for Gorey?)
Has there been much progress on the northern end? I couldn't see much around Inch or the Arklow tie-in. Are they still on target for completion end of next year?

The Sisco Kid

I noticed last week that they are making great progress on the southern end of the Gorey bypass, epecially around the Ballycanew and Knockduff section with both overbridges complete and substantial earth works underway.
There didn't seem to be much around the Arklow road tie-in but that was only from what I saw on the N11.
Are they still on target for completion by end of next year?

mike65

While I never see the northern end I reckon they'll have it ready to open earlier than Sept/Oct 07.

Mike.

jd

http://www.unison.ie/enniscorthy_guardian/stories.php3?ca=38&si=1660753&issue_id=14419

Iarnród Eireann deny delaying by-pass

Iarnród Eireann has denied it is holding up the completion of the Gorey bypass.
In a letter to this newspaper, Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with the railway company refuted Cllr. Lorcan Allen's recent claims that Iarnród Éireann is delaying the completion of the Gorey bypass.
Cllr. Allen recently stated in this newspaper that Iarnród Eireann was delaying progress on the bypass because bureaucracy was holding up a decision on the design of a railway underpass two miles south of Gorey town.
'The true fact of the situation is that Iarnród Éireann are meeting all deadlines in the process as set out by Wexford County Council, who are acting as agents for the National Roads Authority,' said Mr. Kenny.
'The design for the underpass is now being passed to the Railway Safety Commission, the independent regulator of rail safety in Ireland, for final approval, and the project is on schedule for the council's target date of October 2006 for the start of construction on the underpass,' he added. 'It is regrettable that Cllr. Allen did not appraise himself of the full facts of the situation before making his statement.'
However, Cllr. Allen was sticking to his guns on the issue. 'How is it that this is the only bridge not completed on the bypass?' he asked.

Sigh...To think WExford elected Mr Allen as a TD for years (and he was made a junior minister too..)

jd

http://www.unison.ie/enniscorthy_guardian/stories.php3?ca=38&si=1688744&issue_id=14647

[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Arial]Bypass on schedule as first tarmac laid [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial]The first layers of tarmac have been laid on parts of the new Gorey bypass. After a dry summer, the 23 km dual carriageway is still on schedule for opening in November next year.
In its latest newsletter, the County Council NRA liaison office said that construction was well under way on bridges and roadworks.

The project which extends from the Arklow bypass to south of Clogh village, consists of 34 structures including culverts, farm underpasses, and road and rail bridges. There will be two interchanges, one at Raheenagurren, and the other at Tinnock, and a roundabout junction at the southern tie-in near Clogh.

A significant quantity of material has now been excavated, and placed in embankments. Many of the new bridges are now at an advanced stage, meaning machinery can now cross these, rather than crossing public roads.

The completion of the roadworks has meant work has started on paving the new road. This will continue for the next year or more.

Roadbridge Ltd., the company undertaking the work, has said that with the exception of the Macoyle Road, it does not intend closing any more public roads. Some tie-in locations may be subject to one-way traffic lights for short periods of time, but these will be few and intermittent.

Most of the bridges are now completed or under construction. Work on the final piece in the puzzle, the Coolnastud Railway Bridge, is due to commence shortlEarthworks are substantially complete in most areas with the remaining areas being at Ask Hill and around Ballyellin and Ashwood to the northern end of the scheme. The removal of rock material at Ask Hill was done using heavy plant rather than blasting.

Immediately following the earthworks is the construction of the road drainage and then the placement of subbase material, before laying the macadam.

The laying of layers of macadam required for the road has begun. The southern end of the scheme from Clough to Geata Salac is now paved up to basecourse level. The final layer, called the wearing course, is not scheduled to commence until spring 2007.



[/FONT]

Wouild I be wrong in thinking that the could open part of one carriageway some time during the summer to take traffic out of Gorey (similar to Rathnew By pass a few years ago)?

Fool 5000

Newsletter for August 2006 is now online.

http://www.wexford.ie/Roads/downloads/N11G2A%20Newsletter04%20Q3%20Aug06.pdf

loyatemu

Arklow - Rathnew is 14km according to the NRA website

anyone know if they're going to partially open the Gorey bypass before the summer (as they did with Ashford-Rathnew). Would save a lot of hassle even if they could only open one carriageway.

mike65

The southern part of the Gorey by-pass is moving along apace and the diggers are sculpting the earth for the meeting point with the N11.

Mike.

PoolDude

http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Roads/Thefile,4485,en.pdf

Sounds like good progress. I wonder will it come in ahead of schedule?

chamar

Does anyone know if the Gorey by-pass is going to connect with the coast road to Wexford?

mike65

Nope its straight over the top with no slip roads. Typical enough for the NRA!

Mike.

chamar

mike65 wrote:

Nope its straight over the top with no slip roads. Typical enough for the NRA!

Mike.

So if you want to drive Wexford-Dublin via the coast road you still have to go thru Gorey? Unbelieveable.......absolutely unbelieveable. I presume you will be able to get on to it after Gorey then but BEFORE Inch or are they just being spiteful as well as stupid?

spacetweek

mike65 wrote:

Nope its straight over the top with no slip roads. Typical enough for the NRA!

Mike.

No, it isn't! Look at the map again.

Access at the Raheenagurran interchange is provided to the R742 and R741. The 742 leads to Courtown.

mike65

Whoooops! I drive on that section under the bypass every week! I had'nt noticed anything I'll have a proper look next time.

Mike.

jd

That eejit Lorcan Allen is at it again.
http://www.unison.ie/gorey_guardian/stories.php3?ca=34&si=1741729&issue_id=15007

Irish Rail in bypass row

CLAIMS that Iarnród Eireann are holding up progress on the new Gorey bypass have set Cllr. Lorcan Allen on a collision course with the rail authority.
The Gorey Councillor told Monday's meeting of Wexford County Council that their indecision on the design of a railway bridge is delaying the bypass project by between four and six months. And County Manager Eddie Breen said he too was concerned about any delay in the multi-million euro project.
However, Iarnród Éireann spokesperson Barry Kenny hit out at Councillor Allen yesterday (Tuesday).
'Time and time again Lorcan Allen is clearly not interested in the facts at all,' he said. 'It's only his own publicity he's interested in and it's getting a bit tiresome to be honest.'
Councillor Allen said that the railway company has yet to give approval for the last bridge on the bypass, which would cross over the railway line on the Wicklow to Wexford border at the northern end of the Gorey bypass.
He previously hit out at Iarnród Éireann over their delays in approving the design of a railway overpass at the southern end of the site. This matter was eventually resolved, and the gap in the road was filled.
'I'm calling on CIE to pull out the finger and get a move on,' he stated. 'I'd love to know what their excuse is this time'.
Jane Cregan, spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann, said the problem centred around the need to divert a culvert under the bridge.
'We are working with Wexford County Council and the OPW to come up with a solution to divert the culvert,' she said. 'To say we're holding it up is simply not the case. We're working as hard as we can to ensure the culvert is moved in a way that's acceptable to everybody'.

chamar

I was just wondering what with so many by-passes coming in ahead of time. Do the contractors get paid extra for each day ahead of the schedule? Just wondering why we've suddenly got so good at building roads!

darkman2

We got good because:


a. General Election

b. Alot of attention has been brought to the issue and this scares the government into action

Chris_533976

chamar wrote:

I was just wondering what with so many by-passes coming in ahead of time. Do the contractors get paid extra for each day ahead of the schedule? Just wondering why we've suddenly got so good at building roads!

I think its to do with looking good. Most people have no idea how long something like this takes. So if it takes 2 years and the government say 'it'll take 3 years', it looks like it came in a year ahead of schedule.

Plus I've heard rumours that they make it longer to allow any legal action and NIMBY whinging to take place.