M50 and other road upgrades put on hold

Plans to upgrade the M50 surrounding Dublin to three lanes and to improve the interchanges along the route between the airport and Sandyford have been cut back, it has emerged.

Changes to the original scheme to enhance capacity along the M50 emerged as it also became clear that a number of road schemes which have gone through the planning stage across the State will not be started in 2004.

In the most striking element of the changes to the M50 improvements, the N3 interchange at Blanchardstown has been left out.

This complex junction, which includes viaducts for the railway, pedestrians and the Royal Canal, is a regular scene of delays, largely for traffic between the north-west and Dublin city.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) initially hoped to rebuild all the M50 "roundabout" junctions to "free flow" status, but the cost, at €700 million, has proved to be prohibitive, and a more selective approach to the schemes has now been applied. High on the list of priorities is the Red Cow interchange, which is the State's busiest roundabout and the junction of the State's busiest road, the M50 itself, and its second busiest road, the N7.

Also earmarked for improvements are the Galway interchange between the M50 and the N4 near the West Link bridge, and the interchange between the M50 and the M1 near the airport.

Instead of the M50 having three lanes from the M1 around to Sandyford in south Dublin, the latest plan is to have three lanes just as far as Tallaght and then revert to two lanes. The savings are expected to cut the bill for the upgrade from €700 million to about €316 million.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transport has, following the Budget Estimates, revealed the schemes which the NRA intends to begin next year.

Currently the NRA has 22 schemes going through the statutory approval process, according to its website. However, the 11 new schemes announced by the Department for commencement next year include a further four.

The schemes which are to proceed include: the M1 Dundalk Western bypass and the N1 from the Border to Dundalk; the N2 Ashbourne bypass and M50 junction; the N4 Sligo inner relief road; the N6 Loughrea bypass; the N7 Naas Road widening; the N8 Fermoy bypass; the N15 Ballyshannon/Bundoran bypass; the N18 Ennis bypass; the N25 Waterford city bypass and the N25 Kinsale road interchange.

Not included in start-ups listed for 2004 are bypasses of Monaghan and Castleblayney; the M3 Clonee road to south of Virginia; the Hughestown/Meera section of the N4 Boyle to Carrick-on-Shannon road; the N11 junction improvements between Kilpedder and Delgany; the N11 Enniskerry junction improvements; the N21 Castleisland to Abbeyfeale and Ballycarthy to Tralee improvements; the N22 Gortaclea/Farranfore works; the N30 Enniscorthy to Clonroche road; the N52 bypass of Mullingar and improvements to the Mullingar-Belvedere road; the N55 bypass of Cavan town; the Letterkenny to Illistrim improvements; and the Kilkenny ring road extension on the N77.