|
|
|
Dáil Éireann - Volume 594 - 07 December, 2004 Written Answers - Road Network. Mr. Durkan Mr. Durkan 216. Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if he has made contact with the various local authorities with a view to the elimination of unnecessary traffic congestion in various towns and villages throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32540/04] Mr. Cullen Mr. Cullen Mr. Cullen:Traffic management measures in towns and villages to deal with traffic congestion is a matter for local authorities. However, the major investment being undertaken in the upgrade of the national road network is having a major beneficial impact on traffic flow throughout the country. A key objective of the upgrade programme is the elimination of bottlenecks through the provision of new routes by-passing towns and villages. Major projects completed in recent years and which have contributed significantly to better traffic flow include the upgrade of the M1, Kildare, Monasterevin, Cashel, Watergrasshill, and Limerick Southern Ring Road bypasses on the N7-N8, Youghal bypass on the N25, Ballincollig bypass on the N22 and so on. Mr. Durkan Mr. Durkan 217. Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the various motorway projects identified in the National Development Plan 2000-2006 are to date on time and within cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32541/04] Mr. Cullen Mr. Cullen 739 Mr. Cullen:The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authorities concerned The current position in relation to the upgrading of the major inter-urban routes is set out as follows. A number of projects in planning [739] are at tender stage, for example Waterford City bypass and Dundalk-Border. It is expected that the remainder of the projects in planning will either be approved by or be before An Bord Pleanála by early 2005. 740 While the completions in full of the ambitious national roads upgrade programme provided for in the NDP will extend beyond 2006 and the cost of the programme will be in excess of the cost as estimated in 1999-2000, good progress is never[740] theless being made in the upgrade of the national roads network. Since 2000 nearly 330 km. of road, 46 projects, have been upgraded and work is under way on more than 200 km. A range of measures have been taken by the NRA to strengthen cost estimation and control and to secure greater certainty in out-turn cost. The beneficial impact of these measures is evident in the projects now being completed within budget and ahead of contracted completion dates such as Monasterevin and Cashel bypasses, Ballincollig bypass and Ashford-Rathnew bypass.
Mr. Durkan Mr. Durkan 218. Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the port tunnel development contract or contracts are within cost and on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32542/04] Mr. Cullen Mr. Cullen Mr. Cullen:The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port Tunnel project, is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authority concerned — in this case Dublin City Council. However, I understand from the NRA and Dublin City Council that construction of the port tunnel is expected to be completed in December 2005 and it will be open to traffic six to eight weeks later, following commissioning of operations and safety features. 744 [744] I am informed that the current estimated final out-turn cost, including price variation, to date is €715 million, at 2004 prices. Mr. Durkan Mr. Durkan 219. Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he expects higher vehicles to be accommodated in the port tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32543/04] Mr. Cullen Mr. Cullen Mr. Cullen:It is the view of Dublin City Council and the National Roads Authority that the Dublin Port Tunnel will facilitate almost all of the truck traffic currently using Dublin port. Two vehicle height surveys of HGVs using Dublin port have been carried out, one by the Dublin Port Company and one by the National Institute of Transport Logistics. Their results are summarised as follows.
It is clear from the foregoing that a very limited proportion of HGVs using the port will not be able to use the Dublin Port Tunnel. Provision for those HGVs not able to use the tunnel and the routing of overheight vehicles, greater than 4.65 m., through the city, will be addressed in the context of a HGV management strategy being prepared by Dublin City Council. I understand that the HGV management strategy, revised to take account of submissions received during a public consultation period, will be published shortly. Question No. 220 answered with Question No. 97. Dáil Éireann 594 Written Answers Road Network. Questions 20041207
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
