M8 Cullahill to Cashel Road Scheme Opens Ahead of Schedule
Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D., Minister for Transport, today (Monday 8th December 2008) officially opened the M8 Cullahill to Cashel road project 7 months ahead of schedule.
The 40km motorway scheme links Laois and Tipperary on the M8 – the main Cork to Dublin road. The new €434m road runs between Cullahill in County Laois and Cashel in County Tipperary.
• Johnstown and Urlingford in County Kilkenny and Littleton and Horse and Jockey in County Tipperary will be bypassed by the new road.
• Almost 16,000 vehicles will be removed from the bypassed towns and villages.
• An estimated 20 minutes will be cut from journey times from Cork to Dublin during peak hours
Speaking today Minister Dempsey said:
“Road safety will be greatly improved for drivers using the new motorway as they can now bypass minor junctions on the existing N8 where many of the most serious high speed collisions have occurred.
The M8 Cullahill to Cashel scheme opens today 7 months ahead of schedule. All 5 national road projects completed this year have come in on time or early and within budget or as in the case of this project – under budget.”
The Minister added:
“The transformation of Ireland’s national road network is becoming a reality. Towns and villages along the route will experience an enhanced quality of life while drivers will benefit from shorter journey times and safer roads.
Ireland’s island economy is heavily dependent on the efficient movement of goods and people and in this regard this Government will continue to afford a high priority to the development of our transport needs. This will help facilitate economic competitiveness in these challenging times.”
Peter Malone, Chairman, National Roads Authority said:
“2008 has seen 80km of top class roadway open to traffic along the strategic Cork to Dublin route providing huge improvements for road users.
The opening today of the M8 Cullahill to Cashel scheme provides another vital link complimenting the M8 Cashel to Mitchelstown section which opened in July of this year. I am proud to say that both schemes opened significantly ahead of schedule. In addition, both projects came within budget with the Cullhill to Cashel scheme coming in under budget. The Irish Taxpayer can be confident that we will continue our commitment to secure value for their money.”
Funding for the scheme is provided under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013, with part funding by the European Union from the Trans-European Transport Networks Budget.
Please click here to view a map of the scheme.
Further Information Contact:
Sean O’Neill NRA 086 8230600