Just one new national road building scheme will start construction this year, under a reduced €1.44 billion national roads allocation budget for 2009.
The Castleisland bypass in Co Kerry, will join 16 other major road schemes currently under construction with a total length of just under 500 kilometres.
Announcing the allocations for 2009 this afternoon Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said significant savings on tendering prices and early completions had provided the money to press ahead with the Castleisland scheme this year.
However, a number of projects are being "rescheduled" including the N5 bypass of Longford; the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton road in Co Cork; the N18 Gort to Oranmore road; the reconstruction of Newlands Cross in south Dublin.
There is no provision for the Leinster outer orbital motorway. The State is to continue its investment in road building in Northern Ireland to which some €400m has been committed, Mr confirmed.
Funding will be allocated to finance 315 projects throughout the country. The overall allocation announced today represents an average investment of €120 million per month in Ireland’s national roads. It is being made under the Transport 21 Programme and the National Development Plan (NDP).
“This Government is committed to progressing projects that will maintain employment and underpin our economic development. The almost billion and a half euro funding that we have allocated for national roads in 2009 will allow for the continued upgrading of our road network so that road users can enjoy safer, more efficient journeys. By 2010 we will have completed our major motorway programme delivering over 742 kms of new motorway right across the country,” said Minister Dempsey.
As of January 1st, approximately 478 km of new roads are under construction around the country and 156km of these roads are scheduled to be completed this year.
The projects currently under construction comprise of the N4 Leixlip to M50 Junction; the N6 Athlone to Ballinasloe; the N7 Nenagh to Limerick; the N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown; the N9 Waterford to Knocktopher; the N9 Kilcullen to Carlow, the N51 Navan Inner Relief Road and the N25 Waterford City bypass
Seven projects are also moving forward into the Compulsory Purchase Order stage this year including the (N11) Gorey to Enniscorthy; the (N20) Cork to Limerick Northern Section; the (N20) Cork to Limerick Southern Section; the (N22) Ballyvourney to Macroom; the (N22) Cork Northern Ring Road; the (N25) Carrigtwohill to Midleton and the (N56) Mountcharles to Inver.
“The projects that will be funded in 2009 will be built to various scales and are located throughout all regions. What is common to all, however, is that they make for safer, better roads. High quality dual carriageways and motorways are proven to be seven times safer than the roads they replace. By opening over 156km of new roads in 2009 we will be making a significant contribution to the safety of our national road network,” said Minister Dempsey.