CONSTRUCTION IS unlikely to begin on any new national road projects this year, the National Roads Authority (NRA) has confirmed, after a cut in Government funding of more than one-fifth.
Funding from the Department of Transport for the construction, maintenance and improvement of national roads has been cut by €325 million this year, despite the millions of euro of damage caused to roads during the recent bad weather.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey yesterday announced a €1.115 billion investment in the national roads, down from €1.44 billion last year and said it was a “proud boast” that the State’s road building programme was efficient, on budget and on time.
About two-thirds of this year’s budget, more than €730 million, will be allocated to local authorities for the improvement and maintenance of national roads in their areas.
However, this represents a cut of more than one-third in last year’s allocation to local authorities, even though many counties are struggling to cope with extensive damage to roads caused by the freezing weather.
The largest allocation of local authority funds is being granted to Galway County Council which will get almost €179 million for improvement and maintenance, down from €201 million last year. The next biggest beneficiary is Kilkenny County Council, which will get just over €80 million, down from €201 million last year.
Three local authorities have been allocated less than €1 million for the improvement and maintenance of national roads. These are Cork City Council, which will receive €751,800; Galway City Council, which will get €630,900; and Limerick City Council, which will get €378,900.
Money needed for the restoration of national roads badly damaged by the weather in recent weeks will have to come from these budgets. However, a spokesman for the NRA said that local and regional roads sustained the greatest damage during the cold snap and these have separate budgets.
Contracts are due to be signed for three new roads this year. These projects are a 2km stretch of the N7 near Newlands Cross, the M11 from Arklow to Rathnew (16km) and the N17/M18 from Gort to Tuam (58km).
However, the NRA spokesman said it was unlikely that construction would start on any of these before 2011.
Construction will continue this year on the N21 Castleisland bypass, the only national road scheme to start in 2009.
Some 292km of roads will be completed in 2010 – these are the M3 Clonee to north of Kells, N3 Kells to Carnaross (part of the M3), N7 Castletown to Nenagh, N7 Nenagh to Limerick, N7 Limerick Tunnel, M7/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill/Castletown, N9 Waterford to Knocktopher, N9 Carlow to Knocktopher, N10 Kilkenny Link Road (part of the N9 Carlow to Knocktopher), M50 upgrade scheme phase 2, N52 Kells bypass (part of the M3), and N78 Athy link road (part of N9 Kilcullen to Carlow).
The N18 Gort to Crusheen motorway at 22km is due to be completed in 2011 as is the Castleisland bypass.
Mr Dempsey said it was a source of pride that roads were being finished “often ahead of their completion dates”.
The N6 Galway to Ballinasloe, N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown, N9 Kilcullen to Carlow and N25 Waterford city bypass have all opened ahead of schedule, he said.
“The significant expansion and development of the roads networks has benefited everyone in the State. It has been a major factor in underpinning the sustained programme of national economic recovery,” he said.
