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Road Projects Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2017

Wednesday, 22 November 2017

Ceisteanna (39)

Bobby Aylward

Ceist:

39. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress of general safety works and the tender documentation for the consultancy service for the proposed overbridge on the Piltown bypass on the N24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49342/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)

What progress has there been on the general safety works and the tender documentation for the consultancy service for the proposed overbridge on the Piltown bypass on the N24? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

As I have indicated previously, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in conjunction with the relevant road authority, is responsible for the implementation of individual road projects.

I acknowledge the Deputy has particular concerns about the section of the N24 near Piltown and has raised this issue with me on a regular basis. I also visited the area to see this section of road for myself.

I understand that the Deputy was also able to raise his concerns directly with the chief executive of TII during the recent Committee of Public Accounts discussion on TII's 2016 financial statements.

As the Deputy knows, TII has provided funding to Kilkenny County Council to implement some interim safety improvement measures at the Inkbottle junction and the Tower Road junction. I understand from TII that these safety works are substantially completed, with the exception of some additional signage that will be in place by the end of this month.

As well as these short-term measures, the appraisal of long-term options relating to upgrading this section of road and the provision of an overbridge has been under way. TII has indicated that this work has progressed to the point where Kilkenny County Council has tendered for consultancy services relating to the proposed upgrade. It is understood that the Council received tenders on 10 November 2017 and that the council is carrying out a tender assessment with a view to submitting a recommendation to TII for approval before the end of the year.

I thank the Minister for his reply and I thank him most sincerely for visiting and taking a keen interest in the N24 and the problems in Piltown.

Ten lives have been lost there as the Minister is well aware. We need an upgrade. The two-plus-one system is not exactly perfect. We objected to it when it was proposed by the National Roads Authority, NRA. We said it was not good enough and wanted a motorway system but instead it went for the two-pus-one system. It has not worked. Two dangerous junctions are involved, where ten lives have been lost. While improvement works have been undertaken at these junctions, that is not satisfactory and it is still dangerous. We want the process to go forward to amalgamate the two junctions and put in an overbridge. That will solve the whole problem.

I thank the Minister for his interest. Will he make sure that TII pushes this forward without delay? At a recent Committee of Public Accounts meeting, I raised this matter with the TII and it gave a commitment to progressing this as fast as possible.

I acknowledge the Deputy's commitment to this. He has raised it on several occasions, with the chief executive of TII at the Committee of Public Accounts and as it is a safety issue I will continue to give it priority.

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