N9 (M9) Carlow Bypass

Speech by Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D., Minister for Transport, At the Official Opening of the N9 Carlow Bypass
29 May 2008
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I am delighted to be here today to officiate at the opening of the Carlow Bypass on the N9.

This is indeed an important occasion for all the people living in this area as well as anyone living or doing business along the whole length of the N9 from its Junction with the N7 all the way to Waterford and Kilkenny.

While the culmination of the work today represents only one section of a brand new route between Dublin and Waterford, it is important for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it's the first section of the Dublin/Waterford Major Interurban Route to be opened. I am particularly happy to note that it was completed on time and within budget. The remainder of the route, which will provide a high quality dual carriageway/motorway from Kilcullen to the Waterford Bypass, is currently under construction.

When the route is completed in 2010 which is really only a short time away now road users will be able to travel and do business all along the route safely, more predictably (taking 56 minutes off the Waterford / Dublin journey) and more efficiently than has ever been the case in the past.

Secondly, the opening of this particular section will, at one stroke, remove through traffic of over 9,000 vehicles from Carlow streets and give the town back to its citizens. It will also provide a route around the town for all those whose business is elsewhere along the N9 with timesavings of up to 30 minutes in peak time journeys.

Thirdly, the Bypass provides a far safer road. The dual carriageway / motorway type of road has been proven to be far safer than the traditional road. However, bigger and better roads are only one aspect of improving the safety of Irish roads.

A real difference will only be made if each and every road user takes personal responsibility and drives carefully and at a speed appropriate to the conditions.

With a bank holiday weekend coming up - a time when roads around the country are busier than normal - I want to urge all of those taking to the roads this weekend to slow down and arrive alive. 14 people have already died on our roads this month and that is 14 people too many.

Fewer people are dying on Irish roads in recent time thanks to better roads and more responsible driving behaviours. In fact this month we are on track to have one of the lowest number of road deaths in years but we can never become complacent. I want to remind drivers getting behind the wheel this weekend en route to visit family members and loved ones Slow down. Belt up. Take a break if you are tired. And never mix alcohol and a road journey. These tips may just save your life.

I believe that, in many ways, this bypass encapsulates much of what the Government is about.

By providing it, we are achieving three of the most important targets possible removing through traffic, improving access to and from towns and villages in the area and, most importantly improving road safety.

From the point of view of the people of Carlow, it has been the experience of many of the other towns and villages bypassed by the new Inter-urban routes so far, that their quality of life, and the commercial viability of their community, improves substantially.

Many of the towns were avoided by potential shoppers and visitors simply because they were so difficult to get in and out of quickly. I have no doubt that all this will all change for the people of Carlow from today onwards and I wish them every success for their future prosperity.

I think the proof of the pudding in this case will be the upcoming June Bank Holiday weekend I am sure this road opening today will make it one of the best Bank Holidays in Carlow for many a long year.

In the bigger picture, for 2008 alone, €1.65 billion of funding is being provided for the National Roads Programme over €137 million a month in Government funding.

This level of investment is evidence of this Government's commitment, under the ambitious framework of the National Development Plan and Transport 21, to the continuing transformation of Ireland's transport infrastructure.

Already, over 85% of our new major inter urban routes criss crossing the country are either complete or under construction. This high quality network being put in place will continue to contribute to our national competitiveness, job creation and to the achievement of more balanced regional development well into to the future.

Our commitment to this ambitious road building programme is absolute.

...

Finally I would like to express my gratitude to the National Roads Authority and the construction company on this project, Ascon, the Engineers, Roughan & O'Donovan and Faber Maunsell Alliance, and last, but by no means least, the staff of Kildare County Council. Well done, one and all. This is a job of work each and every one of you can take great pride in.

ENDS

spacetweek wrote: »

Interestingly, this new bypass already appears on Google Maps, though not in the aerial shot.

patrickc wrote: »

there were 120kph limits at the start of it on both ends until the day it opened

The Carlow Bypass was officially opened today (Thursday 29th May 2008) by the Minister for Transport Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D.

The €216.5m bypass is the first section of the N9 Dublin to Waterford major inter-urban route to open to traffic. Work on the entire route is on schedule to open in 2010.

The new 18.5km bypass stretches from Prumplestown, south of Castledermot in County Kildare, passes to the east and south of Carlow Town as far as Powerstown.

The scheme, which commenced construction in July 2006, took 22 months to complete.

Performing the official opening Minister Dempsey said,
"The opening of the Carlow bypass today is very welcome news for the people of Carlow town and county. This new bypass will remove through traffic of over 9,000 vehicles a day from Carlow streets and will give the town back to locals. This new route around the town for all those whose business is elsewhere along the N9 will deliver journey time-savings of up to 30 minutes in peak time traffic. By delivering this bypass in time and on budget Government is achieving three important targets – removing through traffic, improving access to and from towns and villages in the area and, most importantly, improving road safety."

Connectivity within the region will be greatly enhanced by the Carlow Bypass because the scheme provides three new junctions; at Powerstown in Carlow to cater for N9 Waterford/Kilkenny traffic, at the Rathcrogue junction on the N80 to provide a crucial link between the N9 and the strategic N80 cross country national secondary route which runs from Wexford to Moate in County Westmeath and at Prumplestown in Kildare on the N9 to allow south bound traffic bypass Carlow Town.

Mr.Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority commented at the official opening cermony,

“The opening of the Carlow Bypass marks the first stage of the N9 Dublin to Waterford major inter- urban to be completed and is indicative of the standard of national road that will serve the southeast into the future. The benefits of the Carlow Bypass locally will be immediate reducing travel times and congestion. On a national scale the new bypass will substantially improve access to the southeast region and will facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people and goods between the gateway city of Waterford and the hub towns of Kilkenny and Wexford identified in the National Spatial Strategy.

The Dublin to Waterford corridor is on target for completion to motorway standard by 2010 and this super- highway will enrich the business and social texture of the south and east region bringing communities closer and enhancing tourist potential while contributing to our economic competitiveness. High quality infrastructure also plays an important role in ensuring the diffusion of growth throughout the regions of Ireland and underpins the realisation of successful economic and social cohesion. The national road dimension of the Government’s Transport 21 Plan is on target and will deliver a key element in underpinning Ireland’s competitiveness.”


Kildare County Council managed the project on behalf of the National Roads Authority working in conjunction with Carlow County Council and the contractor Ascon Ltd.

The Carlow Bypass was funded by the Irish Government 2007 -2013 and part financed by the European Union.

Please see map attached.

Mr.Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority commented at the official opening cermony,

“The opening of the Carlow Bypass marks the first stage of the N9 Dublin to Waterford major inter- urban to be completed and is indicative of the standard of national road that will serve the southeast into the future. The benefits of the Carlow Bypass locally will be immediate reducing travel times and congestion. On a national scale the new bypass will substantially improve access to the southeast region and will facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people and goods between the gateway city of Waterford and the hub towns of Kilkenny and Wexford identified in the National Spatial Strategy."

serfboard wrote: »

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,14724,en.html



How will the Carlow Bypass facilitate movement between Waterford and Wexford?