Roads And Transportaion

A good roads and transport network are integral to the economic prosperity of a region. It is essential to have good access to Dublin, the ports, and the large towns of the region. For local economic development it is equally essential that the regional and local road network are well maintained. This is also very important to the social and recreational activities of a county and its population.  

NATIONAL ROADS

The National Development Plan 2000-2006 concentrates largely on road improvements on national inter urban routes.   In this regard it is imperative that Carlow takes advantage of available funding to the fullest possible extent. 

The N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford route has very significant implications for Carlow in terms of the connectivity of the county with Dublin and Waterford and in realising its potential as envisaged under the Draft Regional Planning Guidelines.

The scheme will result in the bypass of Carlow town and the provision of three interchanges at Powerstown, Rathcrogue and Prumpelstown which will allow full access to the new  high quality dual carriageway.

Work commenced on the Carlow Bypass in 2006 and is progressing well. The anticipated completion date of July 2008 is on target. The northern section of the scheme from Prumpelstown to Kilcullen and the Southern Section from Powerstown to Waterford are both expected to start construction in 2008 with a target date for overall route completion by 2010.

PROGRESS ON OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS

CARLOW INNER RELIEF ROAD – PHASE II

The Carlow Inner Relief Road phase 1 was opened to traffic on 29th October 2003. The road links the N9 from its junction with the Hanover Road to the new roundabout at Stapelstown Road at the entrance to New Oak Estate. The road has enabled access to be achieved to the new shopping development at the Fairgreen and the Carlow Retail Park and has provided an alternative east to west route in the town. The road now takes a daily traffic load of 13,000 vehicles and has significantly relieved congestion in Barrack Street and the adjoining junctions. The second phase of the project which links the roundabout at the new Paupish Bridge with the Eire Og playing fields was constructed in the period from August 2005 to December 2006 and was opened to traffic on Monday December 12th. It is a very important east west link for the town and provides an alternative means of access to and egress from the town centre area.

N9 Pavement Improvement

The pavement programme continued in 2006 with two sections being undertaken between the Business Park Roundabout on the North of Carlow Town and the County Boundary with Kildare. The entire rural section of the N9 is now paved. The only section still requiring pavement overlay treatment is within the built up area of Carlow Town.

N80 PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENT WORKS

Pavement improvement works were carried out at three locations in the county in 2006 namely

• Castletown
• Kilknock
• Ballon to Closh Cross

 

The three roads were paved using dense bitumen macadam base course and hot rolled asphalt. The total spend in carrying out this work was € 900,000. The greater part of the N80 route through Carlow has now been repaved and work will be completed over the next three years.

N81 PAVEMENT WORKS

An allocation of €450,000 was spent in paving the section between the Bang up Cross and Closh Cross. The entire rural section of the N81 has now been paved to a high quality.

Schemes at design/construction stage

Southern Relief Road
Work commenced on the Eire Og Link of the Southern Relief Road. A new bridge was constructed over the River  Burren. This road, which is expected to continue construction in 2007, will link the N80 at Ballinacarrig with the O’Brien Road at the Eire Og Roundabout.

N80 Whitemills to Closh Cross Realignment
A small grant was received from the NRA to commence the design of this section of the N80. It is expected that additional funding will be provided in 2007 to bring the scheme through the statutory processes and the land acquisition phase with a view to commencing work in 2008.

Tullow Relief Road
Funding was provided to initiate the design of this scheme. It is expected that additional funding will become available in 2007 which will enable the design process to be advanced to the point where tenders will issue for the new bridge.

ROAD MAINTENANCE

The policy of the Council is to maintain, develop and improve existing roads and to construct new roads as planning and resources permit.

The administrative area of Carlow has a road network of 1,184 km comprising of :

• National Primary              24 km
• National Secondary          56 km
• Regional                         156 km
• Local                                948 km      

The National Roads Authority provides funding for national roads, and in 2006 an allocation of €3,105,900 was received of which €630,900 was available for maintenance of bridges and carriageways on the county’s national primary and secondary roads.

The maintenance of non national roads is funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and  Local Government and grants to the value €6,935,800 were received in 2006.  In 2006 Carlow County Council provided €974,500 from its own resources for the upkeep and maintenance of the local road network, and a further €60,000 for the improvement of roads in housing estates and to improve signage throughout the county     

Non national road restoration programme

This programme targets much needed surfacing and pavement improvements on regional and local roads in the county.The multi annual restoration improvement programme continued in 2006 with the overlaying of a further 32 km of regional and local roads.

Low cost safety schemes

Funding was provided through the National Roads Authority to realign the junction of the N81 and R726 at Cuckoo Corner Rathvilly. The junction previously conferred priority to the regional road and was a source of potential danger to road users unfamiliar with the location. The  new junction alignment has altered the priority and the junction is operating very effectively.

On the non- national roads, improvement works amounting to €58,000 were undertaken at Slyguff, Ballinacrea, Kilcloney Cross, Fenniscourt Road. Leighlinbridge.

Local Improvement Schemes

This scheme is designed to improve lanes not in the charge of the County Council. Funding was provided from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, through the Clar Programme which is funded by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaelteacht Affairs and from the contributions of the applicants. A total of € 270,000 was expended in 2006 to undertake twelve schemes.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

	2006
Local and regional road surface dressed per annum (sq metres)	319,470
% of local and regional roads surface dressed per annum	6.3