Spellar Welcomes Announcement On Newry/Dundalk Dual Carriageway

28 February 2005
SPELLAR WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT ON NEWRY/DUNDALK DUAL CARRIAGEWAY
Roads Minister, John Spellar, MP, has welcomed today's announcement that work has started on the Ł84 million dual carriageway scheme between Newry and Dundalk.

The scheme involves the provision of approximately 14 km of high standard dual carriageway between Cloghogue Roundabout, immediately south of Newry, and Ballymascanlan Roundabout, north of Dundalk, where it will link into the Dundalk Western By-pass, currently under construction. The scheme also involves the construction of 5.7 km of associated link roads and 11 bridges and other structures.

Of the total estimated cost of the scheme, the amount in Northern Ireland is Ł33m. The scheme is receiving funding support from the European Union.

At a ceremony today near Dundalk, Martin Cullen TD, Minister of Transport in the Republic of Ireland, cut the first sod to formally mark the start of work on the project. He was joined by Stephen Quinn, Permanent Secretary of Northern Ireland's Department for Regional Development.

Mr Spellar, who was unable to attend the event due to pressing Parliamentary business, said that: "Never before has there been a cross-border roads project on this scale, and the announcement today is a tribute to the co-operation and partnership between the National Roads Authority, Louth County Council and my own officials in Roads Service. I have no doubt that it was a far-sighted decision to let the whole scheme as a single contract, and I am sure that the good relations that have been the hallmark of this joint project will carry it through to a successful conclusion in 2007.

"I also wish to thank elected representatives, including those from Newry City Council, the local community and, in particular, the affected landowners for their co-operation during the development stages of the scheme."

Referring to what he described as the strategic importance of the route, the Minister added: "Its location on the eastern seaboard corridor is particularly important since it forms part of the road link between Belfast and Dublin and the ports on the east coast.

"The importance of the route is recognised in its designation as Euro Route 001 by the European Union. This road facilitates the movement of substantial volumes of people, goods and services and contributes to the social and economic benefit of people both north and south of the border."

Speaking at a ceremony to mark commencement of the project, Minister Cullen said the project illustrated in concrete terms how all island projects can make a positive economic and community difference to the lives of people North and South.

He said: "Better roads mean a better future for jobs and communities. This vital piece of cross-border infrastructure will lead to safer roads and shorter travel times. It will help protect and grow jobs in the North East and Border regions. Furthermore, it ensures continuous motorway/dual carriageway road from the M50 in Dublin to across the Border to Newry. These are real benefits for road users and illustrate why the Government is committed to investing in roads."

Speaking at the event, Mr Stephen Quinn complimented the project team, which comprised officials from the Department for Regional Development's Roads Service, the National Roads Authority and Louth County Council, for the excellent partnership which they developed as they managed the scheme with the assistance of their consultants Mouchel Parkman and sub-consultants, RPS Environmental, Michael Punch and Partners and Chandler KBS.

Mr Quinn also congratulated the SIAC Ferrovial Joint Venture for securing the design and build contract in the face of very stiff competition and by wishing the project and all those involved in it every success.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The stretch of the A1 between Newry and Dundalk currently carries about 20,000 vehicles each day of which up to 20% are Heavy Goods Vehicles.

The commencement of the Newry to Dundalk dual carriageway scheme marks another important milestone in Roads Service's strategy for this road. The Department plans to upgrade the remaining single carriageway sections of A1 between Loughbrickland, north of Newry, to the Border to dual carriageway standard by 2009.

Construction is under way of a nine kilometre stretch of dual carriageway between Loughbrickland to Beech Hill. This will cost Ł21m and is due for completion in mid 2006.

A scheme to provide 12 kilometres of high standard dual carriageway between Beech Hill (north of Newry) and Cloghogue is being taken through the statutory procedures of Environmental Statement, Direction Order (i.e. planning approval) and Land Acquisition. Subject to a satisfactory outcome, it is anticipated that work could start on site in early 2007.

A continuing programme of work to upgrade selected junctions on the A1 dual carriageway between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland by providing grade separation is being undertaken.

The planned improvements would: -

Provide better links to major destinations such as Belfast and Dublin;

Provide journey time savings and improve the reliability of journey times; and

Provide substantial safety benefits.

The Newry to Dundalk scheme will be to a high standard, with flyover junctions, no access from private property, no gaps in the central reserve safety fence and two lanes plus hard shoulders in each direction. However, it is not designated as a motorway because at certain points it subsumes the existing road and there is no alternative route for the small volumes of non-motorway traffic.

For media enquiries contact Paddy Cullen, DRD Press Office, on 028 9054 0817 or mobile 07850 187134.

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