Ó Cuív opens €4.4 million N59 (Derrylea) Road Realignment Scheme & Cycle Path
Written by Eamon Ó Cuív Monday, 19 July 2010
Éamon Ó Cuív TD, Minister for Social Protection this morning officially opened the N59 (Derrylea) road Realignment Scheme and Cycle Path which is a stretch of 3.8km of single carriageway in the townlands of Gowlan West and Derrylea, Co. Galway. The new stretch of road and rural cycle path has been completed at a cost of over €4.4 million.
Speaking today at the opening in Co. Galway, Minister Ó Cuív said: “This new scheme, which was completed on time and within budget, upgrades the existing road to current standards, improves line of sight for drivers and takes full advantage of the magnificent landscape throughout the region. The scheme also incorporates a cycle path which will benefit locals and visitors alike.”
This scheme is noteworthy not only for the benefits it will bring to the local area but also because the opening of this project marks the completion of a pilot scheme by the National Roads Authority (NRA) and Galway County Council to standardise the design and construction of single lane national secondary routes.
Speaking about Government investment in the country’s road network, Minister Ó Cuív said: “More than €1.4 billion will be spent this year on enhancements to national and regional and local road infrastructure. This level of investment provides a much-needed fiscal stimulus around the country and it also helps maintain thousands of jobs.”
The Minister also spoke about further plans for 2010 in relation to the N59. He said: “On the N59 itself, you will be glad to hear more extensive work is planned. Compulsory purchase order documentation is currently being prepared for the proposed N59 Moycullen Bypass. This bypass will consist of a single carriageway bypassing the town of Moycullen on its eastern side. There are two junctions on the scheme, at the southern tie-in and also midway along the scheme linking in to the existing road network. The scheme will extend to join with the Galway City Outer Bypass. Preliminary Design is being prepared on the basis of the preferred route. Subject to funding, the Preliminary Design and the environmental impact reports will be completed in 2010. Allocation for 2010 on this particular project is €1m.”
“The National Roads Authority is currently in the process of producing a National Secondary Roads Needs Study with an objective of providing an outline of the ideal future national secondary road network. In tandem with the study, the Authority is progressing with a number of pilot schemes to a new Type 3 Single Carriageway cross section. The N59 Clifden to Oughterard is one of these pilot schemes being progressed to preliminary design. Allocation for this initiative in 2010 is €950,000,” said Minister Ó Cuív.
The N59 Leenaun Bridge this year has also been allocated in the region of €40,000 for bridge works and some structural pavement work is being carried out on the N59 at the Thomas Hynes Road with an investment of €252,000 being made for 2010. Similarly this year, another road realignment will take place on the N59 at Roscahill with €200,000 allocated for this purpose.
The Minister said he also: “Welcomed the provision of almost €1.9m of supplementary pavement allocations provided to Galway County Council by the National Roads Authority recently for the N59,” they are:
€100,000 for the Cleggan junction
€65,000 for spending at Glengowla between Oughterard and Maam Cross.
€75,000 for spending at Garrowman (West of Recess).
€295,000 to be spent on the stretch of road between Cnocnaraw and Moyard.
€100,000 to be spent at Glennagevlagh.
€63,000 to be spent at Tullyconnor
€200,000 to be spent at Streamstown.
€230,000 to be spent at Letterfrack; and
€750,000 to be spent between Tullywee Bridge and Kylemore at the Inagh Valley junction.
These works will be designed, tendered and constructed in the current year. The provision of this extra finance of almost €1.9m “will”, said the Minister “make a significant impact in terms of travelling surface on the N59. The provision of money along with the use of macadam pavements should ensure that motorists on the N59 will notice a significant improvement in the quality of the road by year end.”
The Minister concluded by thanking the contractors, Willis Brothers Limited, the NRA and Galway County Council for their hard work and efforts in delivering this project which he said: “Is a fine example of combining practical cost-effective investment in a road without taking away from the attractive nature of the scenic regions which our national secondary routes traverse.”
The Minister wished all those travelling on the route a safe journey.
ENDS
