The Minister for Transport will today open a €216 million bypass of Carlow town.
The 18.5km dual-carriageway will eventually form a central piece of the new Dublin to Waterford highway, due for completion in 2010.
The Carlow bypass leaves the existing N9 at Powerstown, near the Carlow-Kildare border, and travels in a southeasterly direction passing east of Paletine, Co Carlow, turning south to cross the N80 at Rathcrogue and turning southwest to rejoin the N9 at Prumplestown, Co Kildare.
Today’s opening ceremony takes place at the Rathcrogue interchange at 3.30pm, and the road is to open immediately afterwards.
Work is now taking place on two linking sections of the N9 to the north and south of the Carlow bypass. The 28km Kilcullen to Carlow stretch is due to open in late 2010, and the section south of the Carlow bypass, from Prumplestown to Knocktopher, Co Kilkenny, is also scheduled to open in late 2010.