NRA to spend €1.3bn on major road projects this year

The National Roads Authority is due to spend €1.3bn this year on a number of major road projects, including the latest stage of the M1 motorway between Dundalk and the border.

Work will begin on 19 projects involving 215km of new roadway in 2005, while 150km of Swedish-style “overtaking lanes” will also be constructed at 12 locations during the year.

Overtaking on these lanes is alternated between opposing directions at 2km intervals.

The new roads due to be started in 2005 include bypasses of Monaghan, Castleblaney, Edgeworthstown, Gorey and Charlestown, as well as the first phase of the Kinnegad to Athlone dual carriageway and an inner relief road for Navan.

A number of projects will be completed during the year, including the M50 motorway, the N2 Carrickmacross bypass, the N4 Sligo relief road, the N6 Loughrea bypass and the Dublin Port Tunnel.

Details of the schemes are due to be officially unveiled later today.