Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
216 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if he has made contact with the various local authorities with a view to the elimination of unnecessary traffic congestion in various towns and villages throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32540/04]
View answerTraffic management measures in towns and villages to deal with traffic congestion is a matter for local authorities.
However, the major investment being undertaken in the upgrade of the national road network is having a major beneficial impact on traffic flow throughout the country. A key objective of the upgrade programme is the elimination of bottlenecks through the provision of new routes by-passing towns and villages. Major projects completed in recent years and which have contributed significantly to better traffic flow include the upgrade of the M1, Kildare, Monasterevin, Cashel, Watergrasshill, and Limerick Southern Ring Road bypasses on the N7-N8, Youghal bypass on the N25, Ballincollig bypass on the N22 and so on.
217 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the various motorway projects identified in the National Development Plan 2000-2006 are to date on time and within cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32541/04]
View answerThe planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authorities concerned The current position in relation to the upgrading of the major inter-urban routes is set out as follows. A number of projects in planning are at tender stage, for example Waterford City bypass and Dundalk-Border. It is expected that the remainder of the projects in planning will either be approved by or be before An Bord Pleanála by early 2005.
While the completions in full of the ambitious national roads upgrade programme provided for in the NDP will extend beyond 2006 and the cost of the programme will be in excess of the cost as estimated in 1999-2000, good progress is nevertheless being made in the upgrade of the national roads network. Since 2000 nearly 330 km. of road, 46 projects, have been upgraded and work is under way on more than 200 km.
A range of measures have been taken by the NRA to strengthen cost estimation and control and to secure greater certainty in out-turn cost. The beneficial impact of these measures is evident in the projects now being completed within budget and ahead of contracted completion dates such as Monasterevin and Cashel bypasses, Ballincollig bypass and Ashford-Rathnew bypass.
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N4 |
Lucan Bypass |
8 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N4 |
Maynooth Bypass |
16 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N4 |
Celbridge Interchange |
— |
Interchange Junction |
|
N4 |
Enfield Relief Road |
3 |
Single Carriageway |
|
N4 |
Kinnegad Relief Road |
1 |
Single Carriageway |
|
N6 |
Athlone Bypass |
7 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N6 |
Kilcock/Kinnegad |
33 |
Motorway |
|
N6 |
Loughrea Bypass |
4 |
Single Carriageway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N4 |
Leixlip/M50 Junction |
4 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N6 |
Kinnegad/Athlone Phase 1 |
28 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N6 |
Kinnegad/Athlone Phase 2 |
29 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N6 |
Ballinasloe/Athlone |
19 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N6 |
Galway/Ballinasloe Bypass (PPP) |
56 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N6 |
Galway Outer Bypass |
21 |
16km. High Quality Dual Carriageway.5km. Single Carriageway |
|
Schemes Completed. |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N7 |
Naas Road Widening |
12 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N7 |
Naas/Newbridge Bypass |
18 |
Motorway |
|
N7 |
Kildare Bypass |
12 |
Motorway |
|
N7 |
Monasterevin Bypass |
20 |
Motorway |
|
N7 |
Watergrasshill |
9 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N8 |
Dunkettle/Glanmire |
4 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N8 |
Cashel Bypass |
7 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N7 |
Naas Road Widening |
15 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N8 |
Fermoy/Watergrasshill (PPP) |
17 |
Motorway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N8 |
Portlaoise/Cullahill (PPP) |
30 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N8 |
Cullahill/Cashel |
38 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N8 |
Cashel/Mitchelstown |
32 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N8 |
Mitchelstown Relief Road |
4 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N8 |
Mitchelstown/Fermoy |
20 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
Schemes Completed. |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N7 |
Naas Road Widening |
12 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N7 |
Naas/Newbridge Bypass |
18 |
Motorway |
|
N7 |
Kildare Bypass |
12 |
Motorway |
|
N7 |
Monasterevin Bypass |
20 |
Motorway |
|
N7 |
Limerick Southern Ring Road 1 |
9 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N7 |
Naas Road Widening |
15 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N7 |
Portlaoise/Cullahill (PPP) |
27 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N7 |
Castletown/Nenagh |
35 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N7 |
Nenagh/Limerick |
37 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N7 |
Limerick Southern Ring Road 11 |
10 |
High Quality Dual CarriagewayRoute: Waterford-Dublin |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N7 |
Naas/Newbridge Bypass & M9 Link |
17 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N7 |
Naas Road Widening |
12 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (kms) |
Type of Road |
|
N7 |
Naas Road Widening |
15 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
N9 |
Kilcullen/Waterford (Northern) |
46 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N9 |
Kilcullen/Waterford (Southern) |
64 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
N9 |
Waterford City Bypass |
18 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
|
Schemes Completed. |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
M1 |
Dunleer/Dundalk |
15 |
Motorway |
|
M1 |
Dunleer Bypass |
7 |
Motorway |
|
M1 |
Drogheda Bypass |
20 |
Motorway |
|
M1 |
Balbriggan Bypass |
9 |
Motorway |
|
M1 |
Lissenhall/Balbriggan |
10 |
Motorway |
|
M1 |
Cloghran/Lissenhall |
6 |
Motorway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
M1 |
Dundalk Western Bypass (PPP) |
12 |
Motorway |
|
Route |
Scheme |
Length (km.) |
Type of Road |
|
M1 |
NI Border/Dundalk |
8 |
High Quality Dual Carriageway |
218 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the port tunnel development contract or contracts are within cost and on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32542/04]
View answerThe planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port Tunnel project, is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authority concerned — in this case Dublin City Council.
However, I understand from the NRA and Dublin City Council that construction of the port tunnel is expected to be completed in December 2005 and it will be open to traffic six to eight weeks later, following commissioning of operations and safety features.
I am informed that the current estimated final out-turn cost, including price variation, to date is €715 million, at 2004 prices.
219 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he expects higher vehicles to be accommodated in the port tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32543/04]
View answerIt is the view of Dublin City Council and the National Roads Authority that the Dublin Port Tunnel will facilitate almost all of the truck traffic currently using Dublin port. Two vehicle height surveys of HGVs using Dublin port have been carried out, one by the Dublin Port Company and one by the National Institute of Transport Logistics. Their results are summarised as follows.
|
Dublin Port Company Survey |
National Institute of Transport Logistics Survey |
|
|
Period of study |
Ongoing (data Oct 02 -July 03) |
One week in May 2003 |
|
Measurement location |
Tolka Quay Road Exit |
Entry and exit points except Tolka Quay Road exit |
|
Number of vehicles surveyed |
785,580 |
Approx 53,000 |
|
Number over 4.65 m. (total) |
4725 |
920 |
|
Number over 4.65 m. (percentage) |
0.60% |
1.74% |
|
Number over 4.65 m. (average per day) |
24 |
137 |
It is clear from the foregoing that a very limited proportion of HGVs using the port will not be able to use the Dublin Port Tunnel.
Provision for those HGVs not able to use the tunnel and the routing of overheight vehicles, greater than 4.65 m., through the city, will be addressed in the context of a HGV management strategy being prepared by Dublin City Council. I understand that the HGV management strategy, revised to take account of submissions received during a public consultation period, will be published shortly.
