Road projects ahead of schedule, says Cullen

EIGHTEEN of the country’s major road projects underway are ahead of schedule, Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, has said. And he has vowed all major motorways out of Dublin will be delivered on budget and on time and will be complete by 2010.

He promised a “21st century infrastructure for a 21st century economy” under his plan to transform Ireland’s infrastructure and get people and jobs out of Dublin.

“I want all of the major inter-urban’s completed by 2010. They would include Dublin to Galway, Dublin to Cork, Dublin to Limerick and Dublin to Waterford.”

As part of that, work on the city bypass, the long-awaited second river crossing and motorway to Dublin from his native Waterford will all be underway early next year, he said.

He’s also indicated he will look favourably on a proposal to extend the runway at the South East Regional Airport, also in Waterford.

Contracts for the Waterford City Bypass are being finalised, the National Roads Authority has told the Minister. The 22km of dual carriageway and substantial bridge will be a major development for Waterford and the entire South East, the Minister added.

Work on the Waterford to Dublin motorway will begin next year and it will be complete by 2010.

“That is the sort of investment that Ireland needs and particularly the sort of investment that the South East needs. The development of our airport in Waterford is also critical. The board that is there have incrementally grown that airport to ensure its based on solid foundations. I look forward to receiving from them a proposal with regard to their runway in the not too distant future.”

Passenger numbers in all of our regional airports have grown by more than 200%, the Minister said as he addressed those gathered for the opening of Waterford’s Outer Ring Road.

“That is indicative of how important regional airports are at attracting investment into a region.

“It is also important to state that one of the key economic drivers is the quality of our education facilities. It is important for me to make absolutely clear that the Waterford Institute of Technology can compete internationally and win major contracts of European importance to develop technology which will be part of the cutting edge of our knowledge society.”

Major rail improvements are on the way, he said. From 2007, there will be two hourly services on the most modern fleet out of Waterford and an early morning express services to Dublin from Waterford.

“It is a viable investment in public transport. We also have the resources available for quality bus corridors in Waterford. I’m urging Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford in particular to put these in place as they are so successful in Dublin.”