Official Opening of the N15 Ballyshannon-Bundoran Bypass

Date: 27 April 2006

Speech by

Pat the Cope Gallagher TD

Minister of State at Transport

at the Official Opening of the

N15 Ballyshannon Bundoran Bypass

Thursday 27 April 2006

Introduction

The opening of this Bypass today is another major milestone event in the upgrading of our national road network. In July 2004, my colleague Séamus Brennan turned the sod on this major €81m road building project and I am delighted to be here today to announce its opening 3 months ahead of schedule.

The removal of 9,000 vehicles a day from Ballyshannon and Bundoran will alleviate serious congestion and give residents back their streets with reduced through-traffic. Ballyshannon one of the oldest towns in Ireland and Bundoran, a lively resort town nestling against the backdrop of Benbulben will no longer have severe traffic bottlenecks to contend with and will benefit from the reduction in noise levels and air pollution. Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the amenities afforded by both towns in a safer and more relaxed atmosphere.

It is important at this point to commend all those who cooperated with those involved in the construction of the project, not least the residents and the landowners, who cooperated fully with the project and I know that this cooperation contributed greatly to ensuring that the inconvenience was minimised.

Project

The Bypass forms part of the National Roads Authority (NRA) programme for upgrading the N15 Sligo to Lifford Road. The scheme consists of 11km of single carriageway and starts at Bundrowes Bridge and ends at Cotton Hill, 1km north of Ballyshannon.

There is also a new link road from the roundabout at Cotton Hill, west to Rossnowlagh and I would like to pay tribute to the Department of the Environment who provided funding for the Rosnowlagh link road.

The River Erne Bridge west of Cathaleen's Falls Dam is a two-tier reinforced concrete structure, the lower level providing a pedestrian access across the River Erne with the upper level carrying the vehicular traffic.

This Bypass is complemented with the opening of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road in September last year. These projects together with the earlier openings of the Donegal and Mountcharles bypasses will allow the stunning beauty of the Donegal coast and highland areas to be more accessible to the visitor and local alike.

On a related issue, the Preliminary Design Report, the CPO documentation and EIS for the N15 Ballybofey/Stranorlar bypass project have now been completed and are awaiting NRA approval. I am confident that substantial progress, on this important Donegal project, will be made during the coming months.

Archaeology

I note with interest that during excavation a major discovery - a medieval church foundations and graveyard were uncovered in Ballyshannon. These are thought to date to the 11th 13th centuries AD and contain the remains of over 1200 burials. Archaeological sites such as this serve as reminders that we are guardians of our environment and heritage for future generations.

I also note that the Ballyhanna Research Project - a cross-border research initiative - will fund three postgraduate students to carry out extensive research in the Ballyhanna Church and Graveyard and also that plans are afoot to open a small heritage area there during the summer.

Atlantic Road Corridor

The development of the Atlantic Road Corridor from Letterkenny to Waterford has been a long standing concept in the national roads upgrade programme and has now been re-enforced by Transport 21. It is envisaged that the route will be upgraded substantially to dual carriageway and 2+1 road standard.

These improvements particularly on the N15 will have a beneficial impact on commuters in Donegal. Also, the ongoing major road improvements such as the outstanding sections of the M1 from Ardee to Dublin, the bypasses of Monaghan, Castleblayney, Carrickmacross and Ashbourne on the N2, the M3 Clonee to South of Virginia scheme, the M4 Kilcock Kinnegad motorway and the impending opening of the N4 Edgesworthstown Bypass are of critical importance in terms of access to and from the Donegal.

National Roads Programme

The good progress being made in upgrading these national roads is being reflected around the country. In 2006, work is continuing on 22 projects throughout the country, improving lives in every county.

Through the hard work of the Irish people, and a Government that works with them, we have secured the resources to improve our transport infrastructure.

We have seen the difference road projects can make. New roads make a difference for people and jobs in the region. Make a difference for people by allowing easier, safer road journeys in less time and in less traffic. Make a difference for jobs by letting business do business, allowing companies to transport their goods and services with greater certainty. These are the reasons the Government will continue to invest in infrastructure and these are the gains I will continue to work to deliver on for Donegal and the North West.

Conclusion

Road developments such as this project will deliver safety gains in engineering terms, but it important that they are used safely. As we aspproach the bank holiday weekend, I remind drivers to slow down, fasten safety belts and never ever drink and drive. We should bear in mind that when we get behind the wheel, our lives, and those of other road users, depend on our behaviour.

Finally roads like this are not built without the cooperative effort of many groups, individuals and agencies. I mentioned earlier the residents and the landowners but I would like to thank the contractor and staff SIAC/Wills J.V, consultant engineers and other advisers as well as the National Roads Design Office (NRDO).

I would also like to congratulate the NRA as well as both Town Councils and it's members and Donegal County Council, it's members and staffs and the members of the Donegal Electoral area for their all their cooperation.

I must finally thank the Leitrim Management and its members for their deep interest and cooperation with the project as well as anybody else who had a role - big or small - in bringing this project to fruition.

Thank You.