Cullen to announce €1.4bn budget for road projects

THE Government will spend a total of €1.4 billion on 26 major roads projects this year under the annual spending programme which will be announced by Transport Minister Martin Cullen this morning.

The minister is also expected to confirm that he has requested a feasibility study on a new ring road for Dublin that would lie outside the M50.

In recent months, the Government has signalled that a new outer ring motorway will be necessary as the planned increase in the capacity of the M50 would not be able to cater for growing traffic volumes.

Mr Cullen will announce details of construction commencing on 18 roads, as well as eight other major roads projects that will be completed.

The major projects which are due to be completed are the South-East Motorway (which passes through the ruins of Carrickmines Castle) and the Port Tunnel.

According to sources, the Port Tunnel, which will provide a direct route from the M1 motorway to Dublin Port for heavy goods vehicles, is expected to open in the spring of 2006.

Mr Cullen is also expected to give an update on projects currently in planning as well as those under construction.

The completion of the Carrickmines section of the South-East Motorway follows long delays from the protracted legal dispute over Carrickmines Castle.

After a series of adverse court judgments, the Government last year revised the National Monuments Act to facilitate the completion of the motorway.

The controversial legislative change will also allow the Government to proceed with the construction of the M3 motorway, which passes through the Skryne-Tara region, despite opposition.