Dublin’s M50 orbital motorway has been completed and was officially opened by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen today.
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen
The completion of the most disputed 10.7 kilometre stretch of the road means continuous motorway from the M1 in Dundalk, Co Louth to Rathnew, Co Wicklow.
The road will be open in time for its first evening rushhour at 4pm.
The last stretch of the M50 was held up for several years because of a dispute over the archaeological remains of Carrickmines Castle over which part of the motorway runs.
But after years of court actions and blockades and a change of legislation, the work finally began on the Carrickmines lands two years ago.
Today’s opening means the 34-year-old plan to link the main roads north, south and west out of Dublin has now been realised. It took 17 years to complete and cost nine time smore than originally estimated. The motorway links the M1, N3, M7 and N11.
At a completion cost of €570 million, the South Eastern Motorway is more expensive than the initial €530 million cost of the Dublin Port Tunnel, and the projected €500 million cost of the 61km Clonee to Kells M3 route in Co Meath.
Speaking at the opening, today Mr Cullen said the "begrudges" and the "hurlers on the ditch" will "put the blinkers on and revert to negativity."
"But before they do so, I challenge them to consider the everyday motorist, consider the employment benefits of projects like this, consider the improvements in road safety and, not least, consider the improved quality of life of those who live in the vicinity," the minister said.
Conceding there were "capacity constraints" on the M50, he added: "There is no doubt that the construction of the M50 has been central to the economic success, not just of Dublin, but the whole Irish economy.
"Can anyone imagine how Dublin could function, as an economic or social entity, without this vital artery which now connects every access point to our capital with the rest of the country?"
NRA Chairman, Peter Malone said the M50 completeion represented "a giant step forward in the development of the national road network, resulting in a positive effect on the environment and safety in the greater Dublin area".
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) welcomed the completion of the road but called for more development of the transport network.
"It is important that the Government now ensures that all of its infrastructural projects continue with the same sense of efficiency and speedy delivery and that the self-imposed obstacle of the toll bridge on the M50 is eliminated.