N21 Ballycarthy/Tralee open Friday 15 April 2005

Victor

http://www.nra.ie/

The N21 Ballycarthy/Tralee scheme will be officially opened on Friday 15th April, 2005 by Minister Cullen.

dmeehan

Victor wrote:

http://www.nra.ie/

The N21 Ballycarthy/Tralee scheme will be officially opened on Friday 15th April, 2005 by Minister Cullen.

this has been open for months, its only the ceremony today

Victor

There was I thinking they were very quick with the new bit

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/d1760.HTML.html

Minister Cullen Opens €13.2m Ballycarthy to Tralee Road
15th April, 2005

The Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD said today (Friday, 15th April 2005) that the €13.2m Ballycarty Tralee road will “help jobs, improve quality of life and enhance road safety in the hub of Irish tourism.”

Minister Cullen was speaking in Co Kerry where he officially opened the Ballycarty to Tralee section of the N21 upgrade. The upgrade will see the existing route transformed to a new re-aligned wide single carriageway road. With the Ballycarty to Tralee section of route now open, completion of the entire N21 project is expected next year.

Minister Cullen said the upgrading of the N21 forms part of the strategic national roads policy to improve the primary and secondary road networks as stated in the National Development Plan and is also in line with the National Spatial Strategy objective of upgrading cross regional link roads.

He cited the importance of the N21 as the corridor between Tralee and Killarney and added that the opening of the Ballycarty to Tralee road means improved access into North Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula.

Commenting on the project, the Minister said:

“In an economy that competes on the international stage, well-connected and strategically planned infrastructure gives our businesses and our jobs a better chance. This is especially the case here in the mid and south-west where tourism is the bedrock of the economy. The opening of this road marks the commencement of another phase in the completion of the major route from Tralee to Dublin via Limerick. It illustrates the Government’s commitment to delivering shorter, safer road journeys for the 9,000 vehicles using the N21 everyday.”

Focusing on the Programme for Government, Minister Cullen said the Government is committed to investing €150m of taxpayers’ money per month in the country’s road network.

“Investing €150m per month in our road network is adding personal advantages to people’s lives. Investing €150m per month in roads provides and protects jobs, ensures goods get to the market quicker and allows the regions to prosper. These gains contribute to a better quality of life”.

Minister Cullen highlighted that the new road will deliver a significant road safety dividend.

“Upgraded roads, particularly motorway or dual carriageway standard roads, provide a much safer driving environment. This type of investment is a key part of the new Government Road Safety Strategy”.

Mr Fred Barry, newly appointed Chief Executive of the National Roads Authority also attended today’s event. He stated:

“The National Roads Authority recognises the importance of the N21 as a strategic route linking Kerry with county Limerick and on to Dublin. The benefits of completing N21 Ballycarty/Tralee scheme will be evident to both industry and tourism alike, reducing travel times and improving safety. 2004 saw unprecedented financial investment on the N7 Dublin - Limerick national primary route. The completion of a number of key schemes such as the Kildare and Monasterevin bypasses along with the Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase 1, have improved access to the South West.”

Also attending today, Mr Ned O’Sullivan, Mayor of Kerry said that the opening of this section of road will make the county’s largest town more accessible and will reap benefits for the local economy and provide a better quality of life for its residents.

“Kerry is known worldwide as a premier tourist county and the completion of this section of road will certainly enhance the experience for people entering the county’s largest town”.

Map: http://www.nra.ie/News/DownloadableDocumentation/d1543.PDF