A two-kilometre link road to relieve traffic congestion in the south Dublin suburbs of Sandyford, Stillorgan and Dundrum was opened this afternoon.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, opened the Drummartin link road from the M50 into Sandyford Business Park.
The road is the first section of the €195 million M50 South Eastern Motorway to be opened.
Also from today, two-way traffic will be allowed onto the 1.5 km 'green route' running westwards from the proposed Sandyford Interchange to the existing Ballinteer Interchange of the motorway.
"This is the first step towards relieving congestion that has been a feature of the Sandyford, Stillorgan and Dundrum areas for some years and we are looking forward to further elements of the motorway opening up over the next six to nine months," said Councillor Trevor Matthews, cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
When completed next year, the M50 South Eastern Motorway will link the M11 to the M1, completing the c-ring bypass of Dublin.
The controversy surrounding the section of the motorway due to be built over the medieval ruins of Carrickmines Castle has yet to be resolved, however.