Govt approves funding for two major road projects

Funding has been approved for two multi-million euro road projects in Counties Dublin and Wicklow.

Work is set to start next year on upgrading the Newlands Cross bottleneck on the main Dublin to Cork to Limerick road, while the N11 between Arklow and Rathnew will also be upgraded to four lanes.

Funding of more than €100m is to be provided under a Public Private Partnership involving a significant contribution from the European Investment Bank and Bank of Ireland.

Both projects are due to be completed by 2014.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar has said this is a very welcome announcement, particularly at a time when PPP projects are so difficult to get off the ground.

Mr Varadkar said: "I am delighted to be able to announce the upgrading of Newlands Cross, and of the N11 between Rathnew and Arklow. Both projects will make a real difference to the travelling public and to businesses. Each one covers a critical section of road, and is among a handful of stretches which were never resolved during the boom years.

"Thanks to this new arrangement, the work can finally be initiated.

"It’s particularly welcome to be able to remove the last traffic light between Dundalk and Cork, on one of Ireland’s most important and busiest national routes. The construction process will also create employment for hundreds of people.”

The NRA is set to try to find financial backing for the Gort to Tuam motorway.