The new Ashford and Rathnew bypass in Co Wicklow will be opened this morning.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, is expected to highlight the number of major road schemes now being delivered ahead of schedule and on budget at the opening ceremony.
The completion date for the 14-kilometre dual-carriageway, which was built by as a joint venture between S.M. Morris Ltd and Sisk, was initially estimated by the National Roads Authority to be late next year, but rapid progress on the route led to a revision of this estimate to spring 2005.
To alleviate the notorious bottlenecks at Ashford and Rathnew, especially in summer when traffic on the N11 between Dublin and the south-east is particularly heavy, two lanes of the bypass were opened last June. The full opening date was then estimated for the end of October.
This morning's opening is in contrast to the Glen o' the Downs road improvement scheme, also in Co Wicklow, which ran years over schedule and cost about twice the initial estimate of €42 million.
The Ashford and Rathnew bypass follows last week's opening of the Ballincollig bypass in Co Cork, which was six months ahead of schedule.
The Cashel bypass in Co Tipperary which opens next month is also about six months ahead of schedule, as is the Monasterevin bypass in Co Kildare, which opens in November.
In addition, the Carrickmacross bypass in Co Monaghan, which was scheduled to open in March/April of 2005, may open early in January.
The recent openings mark something of a new era for the NRA, an era which will be assisted by new target price and fixed-price contracts which are being used as incentives for early completion.
The Ashford/Rathnew bypass means a dual-carriageway/motorway standard road now extends from Donnybrook in Dublin to south of Rathnew, a distance of about 30 miles.
When the M50 is complete - possibly next year if there are no further court challenges - dual-carriageway/ motorway standard roads will extend from south of Rathnew to Dundalk, Co Louth, or to south of Portlaoise, Co Laois.
Wicklow council is hoping to get approval from An Bord Pleanála for the next section of the N11, from Rathnew to the Arklow bypass, a length of about 10 miles, later this year.
