Dundalk Western Bypass opened today til Midnight

woody

Well the Western Bypass is opened today from 0800 to 0000 tonite before it's official opening tomorrow, damn has the traffic disappeared, I can actually drive down my road without being in a horrifc jam just to get the paper.

5 months ahead is not a bad feat

Maskhadov

shows what fixed prices contracts can do for the country... we were being robbed before.

What is the story with the Bypass, is it all open or only part ? Is there anything left to build around Dundalk now ??

woody

From Ballymac now to the border is the second phase so apparently that could be finished in under 12 months and then a straight run near enough from dublin to belfast.


although this part that is opened will make a big difference to the town, no more massive trucks and I can get the work 8 minutes quicker

The whole bypass is opened until midnight tonight for the tyrone fans then tomorrow it will be officially opened to everyone

Maskhadov

are you in the Ranger wing or something ?

I think the road deterioates when you leave Ireland and go into the North.

Im really looking forward to seeing the road myself.

woody

Yeah the roads in the North are not as good as they used to be back before we got are act together with our roads infrastructure

murphaph

The next phase of N1 upgrade won't do a lot more for journey times IMO, Dundalk was the last real problem this side of the border. It's still essential to dual the road for obvious reasons like safety but average journey times from Dublin to Newry are now as fast as they're gonna get, give or take 5 mins. The Newry bypass bypass is at least another 5-6 years away, but the North has to get the finger out and improve the A1/M1 junction-it's a disaster that's set to get a lot worse as traffic increases.

The reason the contractor was in such a hurry to get this done is that they begin collecting a share of the tolls (currently the government takes this) from the booths on the M1 as soon as they open the road to traffic.

woody

murphaph wrote:

The next phase of N1 upgrade won't do a lot more for journey times IMO, Dundalk was the last real problem this side of the border. It's still essential to dual the road for obvious reasons like safety but average journey times from Dublin to Newry are now as fast as they're gonna get, give or take 5 mins. The Newry bypass bypass is at least another 5-6 years away, but the North has to get the finger out and improve the A1/M1 junction-it's a disaster that's set to get a lot worse as traffic increases.

The reason the contractor was in such a hurry to get this done is that they begin collecting a share of the tolls (currently the government takes this) from the booths on the M1 as soon as they open the road to traffic.

Where is the New Toll gonna be on the border ?? I know that this or maybe the other phase is PPP ??

Well it will reduce time in and around 15 mins, considering the route pass xerox has several sets of lights and 3 roundabouts, it will impact better for local residents, I never have seen the road so quiet and the majority of HGV's heading south will benifit slightly, that is now around 90KM of motorway, roll on the port tunnel, sooner those works are finished the better

Alun

Thank goodness for that. That apology for a road through Dundalk was riddled with some of the world's biggest, meanest potholes ... not funny

murphaph

woody wrote:

Where is the New Toll gonna be on the border ??

No new toll booths. The contractor for the Dundalk Bypass was always going to be entitled to a share of the take from the existing booths near Drogheda, it was built in to the deal and instead of stipulating a date when they'd start collecting their share the NRA specified that they'd start collecting their share as soon as they had the Dundalk Bypass up and running. Twas clearly a good incentive.

woody

Alun wrote:

Thank goodness for that. That apology for a road through Dundalk was riddled with some of the world's biggest, meanest potholes ... not funny

I know lost a tyre a few months ago

No new toll booths. The contractor for the Dundalk Bypass was always going to be entitled to a share of the take from the existing booths near Drogheda, it was built in to the deal and instead of stipulating a date when they'd start collecting their share the NRA specified that they'd start collecting their share as soon as they had the Dundalk Bypass up and running. Twas clearly a good incentive.

ah sneaky sneaky it all makes sense now

murphaph

Dundalk bypass opens 5 months early

Monday, September 26 12:08:45

(BizWorld)

The new Dundalk Western Bypass was opened today, five months earlier than scheduled and within budget, the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen said.

Speaking in Dundalk, Minister Cullen said the opening of the new bypass will be a major benefit to the people and businesses of the North East.

"Its delivery, 5-months ahead of schedule, means that road users will save up to 30 minutes on journey times and traffic logjams will be reduced. Equally, with better access to and from Dundalk, local businesses can thrive and jobs in Louth can grow. The completion of this stretch also means that road users on the M1 Dublin - Belfast route can travel on continuous motorway from Dublin to Ballymascanlon, a total of over 90kms," he said.


The bypass was opened for several hours yesterday to accommodate thousands of Tyrone fans travelling to and from Croke Park where the Ulster team was victorious.

Victor

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0926/bypass.html

Cullen officially opens Dundalk bypass
26 September 2005 11:55

Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD, today officially opened the Dundalk Western Bypass, five months ahead of schedule.

The Minister was joined at the opening by the NRA Chairman, Mr Peter Malone.

The multi-million euro bypass was completed five months ahead of schedule and under budget.
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It was temporarily opened yesterday for Tyrone fans travelling to and from Croke Park.

The completion of this 11km stretch of road also marks the end of the first Public Private Partnership road scheme.

There is now over 90 kilometres of continuous motorway from Dublin Airport to the north of Dundalk and a saving of approximately 30 minutes for motorists travelling at peak times.

Minister Cullen said: 'The opening of the new Dundalk Western Bypass will be a major benefit to the people of businesses of the North East.'

'Equally, with better access to and from Dundalk, local businesses can thrive and jobs in Louth can grow.'

Minister Cullen also announced plans to introduce Fixed Price Contracts on all taxpayer funded transport projects to ensure the risk for any overruns falls on the contractor and not the taxpayer.

He added: 'It is fair to say that on infrastructure costs, for several Governments, involving several political parties, over several years, there have been challenges. The old style of contracts, where any additional costs fell to the taxpayer, resulted in increased and inflated outcomes.'

'The Government and its agencies, recognising this, have moved progressively since 2002 to the greater use of the Design and Build form of contract which ensures greater certainty of outturn costs. I believe we need to go further again and introduce Fixed Price Contracts. The price you see must be the price you pay.'

D'Peoples Voice

Victor wrote:

Minister Cullen also announced plans to introduce Fixed Price Contracts on all taxpayer funded transport projects to ensure the risk for any overruns falls on the contractor and not the taxpayer.

He added: 'It is fair to say that on infrastructure costs, for several Governments, involving several political parties, over several years, there have been challenges. The old style of contracts, where any additional costs fell to the taxpayer, resulted in increased and inflated outcomes.

Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere, and perhaps it does belong on it's own thread, but just wanted to bring it up here because its appropriate for this project.

I know IBEC said that every road building company will now add "flesh" onto every quote they give to the government for a project, but I think maybe IBEC are thinking too much of their members here, whom they represent.
Yes, the prices may be inflated at first, but looking at the number of road projects that the NRA have under construciton at the minute, very FEW companies dominate all the projects. In other words, there APPEARS to be a fair degree of competition between construction companies for contracts.
Therefore, if the laws of economics apply, each will undercut each other, until the meanest leanest bidder for a project is accepted by the NRA. Hence in the long run, prices will come down.
Of course, in true Irish style, the companies could organise a cartel between them ,and make sure no-one quotes below a certain level of flesh, be it 20% above basic cost price!

MrPudding

D'Peoples Voice wrote:

Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere, and perhaps it does belong on it's own thread, but just wanted to bring it up here because its appropriate for this project.

I know IBEC said that every road building company will now add "flesh" onto every quote they give to the government for a project, but I think maybe IBEC are thinking too much of their members here, whom they represent.
Yes, the prices may be inflated at first, but looking at the number of road projects that the NRA have under construciton at the minute, very FEW companies dominate all the projects. In other words, there APPEARS to be a fair degree of competition between construction companies for contracts.
Therefore, if the laws of economics apply, each will undercut each other, until the meanest leanest bidder for a project is accepted by the NRA. Hence in the long run, prices will come down.
Of course, in true Irish style, the companies could organise a cartel between them ,and make sure no-one quotes below a certain level of flesh, be it 20% above basic cost price!

If, as IBEC say, Irish construction companies decide not to tender for road building projects, so what? There are plenty of road building companies in countries like France that are well used to delivering quality roads on or below budget within the correct time.

MrP

D'Peoples Voice

MrPudding wrote:

If, as IBEC say, Irish construction companies decide not to tender for road building projects, so what? There are plenty of road building companies in countries like France that are well used to delivering quality roads on or below budget within the correct time.

MrP

Can't you just imagine the scare stories that would come out!
We'd be told that all these foreign companies will be like GAMA and underpay their staff,
that Ireland would be undermining the future of Irish construction companies and be heading towards an Armageddon for it's road building projects years from now, by leaving no irish construction company running.

The Unions and IBEC on one side, the government on the other! Unfortunately I know who'd I put my money on!