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The following developments took place in December:

LUAS

Luas Citywest Extension

On 20 December 2007 the RPA submitted an application for a Railway Order (planning permission) to An Bord Pleanála in respect of the proposed Luas extension to Citywest. This spur off the existing Red Line will be 4.2 km in length and will run from Belgard to Saggart in west County Dublin. In agreement with the RPA, a consortium of local developers will be responsible for delivery of a substantial part of the works for this extension as well as providing land and making a capital contribution in respect of the project. Subject to securing an enforceable Railway Order, the new spur line is expected to be completed in 2010.

Luas extension to Docklands – New Spencer Dock Bridge

On 17th December 2007, following a competitive tendering process, the RPA approved the award of the new Spencer Dock Bridge construction contract to Laing O'Rourke. Construction is due to commence early in 2008. The new bridge will carry Luas across the Royal Canal and along Mayor Street as part of the Docklands extension project. The location of the bridge will be immediately beside the proposed National Conference Centre and close to the Samuel Beckett Bridge. The design of the new bridge is unique and it is expected to become a landmark structure in the Docklands area.

Extension of Trams on Tallaght (Red) Line

Two further trams operating on the Tallaght Line were extended to 40 metres in length in December bringing the total number of extended trams on the line at year end to 17. The remaining 9 trams on the line will be extended from 30 to 40 metres by May 2008.

HEAVY RAIL

Navan Rail Line

The Public Hearing by An Bord Pleanála into the Railway Order application by Iarnrod Éireann to construct the 7.5 kilometre line from Clonsilla on the existing Dublin-Maynooth commuter line to the M3 Interchange at Pace, north of Dunboyne took place in December 2007.


Intercity Rail carriages

The first of 183 new Intercity railcars entered into service on the Sligo – Dublin rail line on the 19 December 2007.




ROADS

N4 Dromod Roosky Bypass

Delivered 5 months ahead of schedule at a cost of €84.5 million the Dromod Roosky pilot 2+2 carriageway is significant from both a safety and investment standpoint. It consists of two lanes in both directions divided by a barrier, thus limiting the risk of head on collisions. The Dromod-Roosky Bypass forms Section 1 of the overall Drumsna to Longford scheme which consists of the realignment of 20 km of the N4 National Primary route extending from the eastern end of the Drumsna Bypass to the western side of the Longford Bypass. Contract was awarded to JONS Civil Engineering and construction started on site in Quarter 3, 2006. The scheme was officially opened on 7 December 2007.

N56 Mountaintop (Letterkenny to Illistrin)

Comprising 5km overall, this project was constructed in two phases. Phase 1, which is 1.5km in length, was completed in September 2006 and incorporates a major new roundabout at the Calhame junction. Phase 2 is 3.5km in length and extends from the Calhame Junction to Illistrin. The contract for Phase 2 was awarded to Noel Regan and Sons and construction commenced in January 2007. Phases 1 and 2 were officially opened on 14 December 2007.

N77 Kilkenny Ring Road Extension

The scheme consists of 4.2 km of wide single carriageway from the existing Carlow Road roundabout to a new roundabout north of Glendine on the Castlecomer Road. It includes a new bridge over the Kilkenny-Dublin railway line. The official opening of the scheme took place on 18 December 2007.

N18 Ennis Bypass/N85 Western Relief Road

N18 Ennis Bypass (Phase 1) consisting of 14km new dual carriageway opened in January 2007. Phase 2 of the entire scheme which 4.6km of single carriageway (this was the first section of N85) opened on 9 August 2007. On 20 December 2007 2.5km opened which means that the entire scheme for N18 and N85 is opened to traffic now.



Last updated: 11/05/2010