Government Capital Spending on Roads: 2016-2022

hi5 wrote: »

Don't we already have a road program from back in 2008, I thought the issue was a lack of money, the roads didn't mysteriously fix themselves since.:rolleyes:

The projects in that scheme were:

M11 Arklow to Rathnew - opening July 2015
N7 Newlands Cross - done
M11 Enniscorthy Bypass - almost at construction stage
N25 New Ross Bypass - almost at construction stage
M17/M18 Gort - Tuam - under construction, opening circa. 2018
N6 Galway City Outer Bypass - at route selection

So it really is time for a new roads programme, and what better time to announce one than right before an election.

All the roads out of Dublin have been upgraded to a decent standard, most have been fully upgraded to what's needed. Dublin's ring road also got a major upgrade with widening and fixing the interchanges.

Let's look at Cork:

N40: main interchange on this route is an at grade signalised roundabout. 3 other main junctions are... signalised roundabouts albeit not at grade. Douglas, a main destination along the route, has no westbound offramp or no eastbound on ramp. The North Ring Road has also not been built (there is a north ring road but it's a disgrace and completely unfit for purpose)

and the roads out of Cork:

N20: completely sub par, needs M upgrade along 70km or so of its route.
N22: Macroom/Ballyvourney bypass looks on the way, to replace possibly the worst section of national primary route in this country. Macroom-Ballincollig will then become a bottleneck but at least the worst section of the road is sorted.
N25: Carrigtoohill-Midleton has had its median crossings blocked which has made it safer, 2+2 to Youghal would be an idea incorporating bypasses of Castlemartyr and Killeagh however definately not an immediate priority.
N27: South City Link is relatively good, perhaps grade seperation of some of the junctions may be considered if space permits.
N28: EU funding will hopefully sort out this mess.
N71: Should be dual carraigeway as far as Halfway/Inishannon. An Inishannon bypass may not be a bad call either as it blocks up quite often.

All of these projects are necessary especially M20 North, M20 South, N22 Ballyvourney - Macroom, N22 Ballincollig - Macroom and the N28, but unless there's 20+ schemes in this programme I can't see Cork getting more than 2 schemes, although Wexford did get 3/6 schemes out of the last programme (N25 + 2x M11 , others Newlands Cross, M17/M18 and N6 GCOB)

captainspeed wrote: »

I'd prefer to see the M20 done asap. I'm not really sure what way the scheme's divided up now (NRA website is not very clear to me), but between Mallow and Charleville is easily the worst in terms of standard of road and delays. Mallow-Cork is relatively OK. Once you get beyond Charleville it's not too bad (relatively speaking, of course).

I'd say knowing the Government they'll say Cork's getting its fair share of roads investment with the Dunkettle Interchange (I'm sure that will be announced as that has to come before the M28 and it's only €100 million) and the M28 even though the latter's coming from EU money . If we're lucky we'll see movement on Macroom as well - in fairness the N22 won't be too bad once that's done, obviously the bit between there and Ballincollig will have to be done eventually but sorting out Macroom and Ballyvourney will make a huge difference and remove what's by far the most dangerous bit as well as a big bottleneck, so it will make a huge difference. The Macroom bypass also has the advantage of covering Kerry voters as well and will be a real help for tourism - obviously if Kerry's easier to get to more people will go there.

Mallow-Croom ideally. Charleville-Croom is no better than Mallow-Charleville, and would also bypass Banogue and O'Rourkes Cross.

I hope they do the actual M20 or nothing, no point in doing half arsed bypass schemes now, just get it done.