THE GOVERNMENT is unlikely to be able to invest in major new road infrastructure projects until 2017, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar admitted yesterday.
Speaking as he officially turned the sod on two road schemes in Co Westmeath, Mr Varadkar said: “The ability to invest in new road projects is going to be very constrained for the next number of years, probably until about 2016 or 2017.”
Instead the Government will prioritise the maintenance of existing roads through the investment of “a couple of hundred million every year” and improving existing infrastructure. About 30 of these small projects are to take place this year.
As he turned the sod on the N52 Carrick Bridge to Clonfad improvement scheme, Mr Varadkar said similar projects could go ahead. He cited the Ballaghaderreen bypass on the N5, a Newlands Cross upgrade and planned works on the N11 at Rathnew as projects he would like to see this year.
Mr Varadkar said he would seek funds from the sale of State assets for road projects “particularly where there is a strong economic case for doing so”.