One of the most dangerous stretches of road in the country has been bypassed with the opening of a new section of the M11 in Co Wicklow.
The Arklow/Rathnew motorway, which opened on Sunday evening, removes a series of dangerous bends which have been the scene of 33 deaths over the past two decades.
The toll-free 16.5km route is expected to reduce journey-time by between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
It also means motorists will be able to drive on motorway or high-quality dual-carriageway for 280km from south of Gorey, Co Wexford, to Belfast for the first time.
The road was opened by local Government Ministers including Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin and Minister of State Simon Harris.
Mr Donohoe said the road will provide a safer driving experience for the estimated 20,000 motorists who use the route daily.
“This will make a major contribution to road safety, but it will also improve connectivity and link up this region with the national motorway network,” he said.
National infrastructure
He said the Government was exploring a number of other public-private partnerships aimed at improving national infrastructure.
Mr Howlin, who also pledged to continue investment in roads, was heckled by a small group of anti-water charge protesters during his speech.
Afterwards, he told reporters: “It is the same small number of people, unrepresentative of anyone, who have no interest in the development of the country. There are those who want us to fail, but the vast majority want us to succeed.”
The construction of the motorway was completed months ahead of schedule by contractors BAM.
It forms part of a €282 million public-private partnership project which includes the upgrading of Newlands Cross in Dublin and a new service area on the Gorey bypass, due to open later this year.
Work also included two interchanges at the Beehive and Jack White’s crossroads.
Public-private partnership
Theo Cullinane
, chief executive of BAM Group Ireland, said he has been critical of public bodies in the past for their use of contracts which unfairly allocate risks on contractors. But he said the public-private partnership model used on the M11 project worked very effectively and will be instrumental in delivering other key parts of national infrastructure over the coming years.
Brian Doyle, chief executive of Wicklow County Council, said the upgrading of the route has been a priority for the past decade.
The local authority commenced the tendering process on two occasions, in 2005 and again in 2008. On both occasions, it did not proceed due to unavailability of funding.
“I am delighted now that the final section of single carriageway on the N11 in Co Wicklow has now been upgraded,” he said.
“The section has been the scene of many road fatalities and injuries as could be seen from the numerous roadside memorials that were placed on the road. The new scheme will be a major contribution to road safety in the county.”
A total of eight dangerous bends between the Beehive and Scratnagh Cross roads – including the notorious Ballinameedsa bends – will be removed from the new route.
