A NEW 40km stretch of motorway that will knock 20 minutes off journey times between Dublin and Cork has been opened to traffic.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey yesterday opened the €434 million motorway scheme along the M8 between Cullahill, Co Laois, and Cashel, Co Tipperary.
The motorway, finished seven months ahead of schedule and under budget, will take up to 16,000 vehicles out of a number of towns on the old N8 route.
"This is an historic occasion and a major advancement towards the completion of the Dublin-Cork route," said Mr Dempsey yesterday.
"Towns and villages along the route will experience an enhanced quality of life, while drivers will benefit from shorter journey times and safer roads.
"Road safety will be greatly improved for drivers using the new motorway as they can now bypass minor junctions where many of the most serious high-speed collisions have occurred."
The new road will bypass Johnstown and Urlingford in Co Kilkenny and Littleton and Horse and Jockey in Co Tipperary.
"Ireland's island economy is heavily dependent on the efficient movement of goods and people and in this regard this road will help facilitate economic competitiveness in these challenging times," said Mr Dempsey.
The new road will connect with the Cashel bypass, which opened in 2004, and link to the Cashel-Mitchelstown section of the M8, which opened in July.
"We have seen 80km of top-class roadway open to traffic along the strategic Cork to Dublin route during 2008, providing huge improvements for road-users," said Peter Malone, chairman of the National Roads Authority.