A record €1.5 billion is to be invested in upgrading Irish roads during 2007, the Minister for Transport announced today.
Announcing the funding today, Martin Cullen, said it will "allow for more, new and better roads that will help road-users go about their daily lives in a more efficient way".
"Better roads also facilitate greater competitiveness," he added.
With the new funding in place, the National Roads Authority (NRA) is due to complete nine schemes in 2007, with a combined length of over 100 kms, including the Castleblayney bypass, the NI Border to Dundalk Road and the N11 Arklow Gorey bypass.
Some seven road projects are also due to get underway this year, including the N3/M3 Clonee to North of Kells project; the M7/M8 40 km Portlaoise to Cullahill/Castletown motorway, the N9/M9 24 km Waterford to Knocktopher motorway and the N6 56 km Galway to Ballinasloe dual carriageway.
Mr Cullen said that priority was being given to speeding up the M50 upgrade . "What is common to all of these projects, however, is that they make for safer roads," he said.
"High quality dual carriageways/motorways have been proven to be seven times safer than the roads they replace. By opening over 100km of new roads in 2007, we are adding to the safety of our national road network."
However, there are still some unresolved issues, with protests at the planned M3 site continuing to hold up work on the new motorway
Mr Cullen said people should respect the decision that had been made, regardless of what side of the debate they were on. The contract for the road is due to be signed in the next couple of weeks, he said, and urged the protesters to respect the process.
