Motorway upgrade will cut congestion, vows Minister
Transport Minister Martin Cullen turned the sod on an upgrade of the notorious M50 today signalling over two years of traffic disruption for motorists.
The first phase of the €230m upgrade of the motorway will see the five kilometre stretch from the N7 to the N4 expanded from four to six lanes.
On the impact of upgrade works on traffic, Minister Cullen said concerns were understandable.
Mr Cullen said there was a clause in the upgrade contract requiring the contractor to maintain traffic flow during the road works, which will also include free-flowing interchanges at the Red Cow, Liffey Valley and Ballymount roundabouts.
An M50 Upgrade Traffic Group, including representatives from the National Roads Authority (NRA), local authorities and the Gardai, will oversee traffic management arrangements.
Mr Cullen said work would begin shortly on the roadworks which were due to be completed by 2008.
He said: “The move from four to six lanes, plus free flowing interchanges will improve average peak hour speeds, reduce traffic congestion on the radial routes and improve traffic flow on the whole of the Dublin road network.”
He said the upgrade along with the widening project on the Naas Road, plus the upgrades on the N2 and N3 would deliver major improvements for road users.
The widening of the motorway and upgrading 10 of the access points along the route is intended to reduce the average travel time by 19% in 2008.
Peter Malone, chairman of the National Roads Authority said the massive growth in traffic over the last 10 years had placed enormous pressure on the capacity of the M50.
“In this regard, the Authority has moved quickly to prepare an effective strategy to substantially upgrade the M50 in order to improve traffic flow and safety,” he said.
A public private partnership contract will finance the second phase of the upgrade which will include improving the two lane carriageway between the existing M1 and the N3 Blanchardstown junction, and between the N7 junction and the Sandyford Interchange to three lanes.
It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded by the end of 2006 with work on the project due to be completed by mid-2010.
The NRA said this would increase the M50’s traffic capacity to 180,000 vehicles.
Last week, the National Roads Authority said the Westlink toll bridge on the M50 would be replaced by barrier-free tolling by 2008.
The toll bridge has been blamed for some of the worst congestion on the Dublin motorway, which is used by up to 100,000 motorists per day.
The NRA said it had terminated negotiations with National Toll Roads (NTR) because it was not happy with the value for money being offered.
Mr Cullen said a management study and public consultation would take place before the Government decided on moving towards a new barrier free tolling structure.
On the removal of a Westlink Plaza, Mr Cullen said: “The domino effect that is the Westlink is suffocating stretches of the M50.
“Unlike other toll plazas, where time savings to motorists have had a positive impact, the same cannot be said of the Westlink. The decision to move to barrier free tolling, finally provides certainty. Certainty that the Plaza will go, certainty that barrier free tolling will replace it and certainty on timing.”
Mr Cullen said the NRA would draw up options on the barrier free tolling after the public consultation process.
“Then Government will have an opportunity to evaluate the information presented and in turn reach a decision. My view is that the new barrier free tolling scheme should be fairly priced and deliver on service to the motorist,” he said.
