Vol. 499 No. 3
266 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will provide the funding to construct the Dundrum by-pass as a matter of urgency; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that construction must start in 1999 in order that completion will coincide with the opening of the southern cross motorway to which the Dundrum by-pass is the only viable access for a huge catchment area of south County Dublin. [2673/99]
The question of how the Dundrum by-pass should be funded is currently under consideration.
I understand from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council that the section of the Southern Cross Route to Ballinteer Road is due to be completed in Spring 2001, the Ballinteer Road-Wyckham by-pass scheme, which is being funded by the National Roads Authority, is due to go to tender on 1 March 1999. Work is expected to commence on 1 August 1999 and be completed in November 2000.
The Wyckham bypass section of the Ballinteer Road-Wyckham bypass scheme must be completed before work can commence on the Dundrum bypass. I understand that work on the Wyckham bypass section will be completed in sufficient time to allow the Dundrum bypass go to tender on 1 October 1999 and that work should commence on 1 March 2000. With an estimated contract period of 15 months the project would be due for completion in June 2001.
