Last section of M9 motorway to open next month

[Gruffalo]

The motorway between Dublin and Waterford will finally be fully open from September. Hopefully, this will lead to an increase in economic activity in the South East, along with a decrease in road accidents.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0818/m9.html

However, expect to hear Tom Parlon in the media again as this will initially put more people on the dole queue i.e. the construction crew.

[Slim Buddha]

The CIF should be told once and for all to "******* Off!!!!!"

[Gruffalo]

Opened this morning. Press release:

A new 40km section of the M9 motorway from Carlow to Knocktopher was officially opened today (9/9/2010) by Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey T.D.

This new section of motorway completes the fourth inter-urban motorway by connecting Waterford to Dublin via the new M9. The completion of the Carlow to Knocktopher scheme is estimated to save approximately 30minutes at peak journey times. Overall it is now estimated that it will take approximately 90minutes to travel from Dublin (M50) to Waterford City.

This scheme came in on budget at €467milion and 3 months ahead of schedule. Additionally, this motorway will remove unnecessary through traffic from Stoneyford, Knocktopher, Kilkenny City, Paulstown, Gowran, Dungarvan and Thomastown giving back to all these communities their respective village, town and city centres.

The Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey T.D. said, "The new M9 motorway linking Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford is now complete. This final 40km section of motorway between Carlow and Knocktopher opens another significant region of the country and it will prove vital in assisting local, national and international competitiveness.

As always, it is very important to acknowledge the major road safety improvements that go hand in hand with all the new motorways opened over the last few years and the significant time savings and efficiency created with a new Inter-Urban Motorway Network. It is estimated that journey time from the M50 in Dublin to the City of Waterford will be made in less then two hours.”

Peter Malone, Chairman National Roads Authority stated “The opening of the M9 Carlow to Knocktopher project completes the entire M9 motorway and provides a high quality link between Dublin and the major population centres of Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford. Overall it will improve road safety, increase business opportunities and attract a wider audience to come and see for themselves the offerings on hand from the entire tourism industry throughout the region.

The transformation of road infrastructure throughout Ireland over last few years is historic in proportion and will offer a significant return on investment for generations to come. The National Roads Authority is one step closer in delivering a fully functioning modern motorway network for the benefit of the entire country.”

http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases...,17283,en.html

[C. Flower]

Has anyone tried it yet ?

[TotalMayhem]

The Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey T.D. said, "The new M9 motorway linking Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford is now complete. This final 40km section of motorway between Carlow and Knocktopher opens another significant region of the country and it will prove vital in assisting local, national and international competitiveness.

Happy motoring, Noel ... oh, i forgot, you much prefer the government jet.

[C. Flower]

Happy motoring, Noel ... oh, i forgot, you much prefer the government jet.

There will be so little traffic that he could land the Government jet on it.

An Bord Pleanála's Inspector recommended refusal of this stretch of the road as motorway as the levels of use weren't going to be high enough. And that was in the boom.

[TotalMayhem]

There will be so little traffic that he could land the Government jet on it.

Like in Switzerland whether motorway system was planned to support the air force and the service stations can be transformed to service jet fighters?

[TaxProtester]

There will be so little traffic that he could land the Government jet on it.

An Bord Pleanála's Inspector recommended refusal of this stretch of the road as motorway as the levels of use weren't going to be high enough. And that was in the boom.

They couldnt be more wrong. That section was needed more than any other. All the traffic was hurtling along the boreens of south kilkenny at 100kph making the old N9 a bit of a death trap. Huge articulated trucks were congesting the small villages of Thomastown and Gowran. A truck hurtling towards Thomastown tore a huge chunk out of an old building at the 16th century bridge there. Anyone whos been through Thomastown will know what I mean.

The motorways are the best thing this country has ever built.