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THE FINAL section of the M9 motorway, a 40km link between Carlow and Knocktopher in Co Kilkenny, is to open this morning.

The section completes motorway-standard road between Kilcullen, Co Kildare, and Waterford city at a total cost of €1.519 billion. The figure includes the cost of the Suir Bridge and Waterford city bypass, which is officially part of the N25.