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Dublin Cork Motorway Opens

The last leg of the Dublin Cork Motorway, the M7/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill / Castletown PPP Motorway Scheme, was opened by An Taoiseach Mr Brian Cowen TD on Friday 28th May. The motorway was constructed by BAM in JV, part of the Celtic Roads Group (CRG). CRG comprises BAM, Iridium and NTR. The M7/M8 works involved the design, finance and construction of approximately 41km of new-build motorway and its operation and maintenance commenced immediately on its opening. The M7/ M8 Public Private Partnership project represents BAM’s third success in the delivery of Ireland’s PPP infrastructure. The two already completed PPP schemes are the 11km Dundalk Western Bypass and the recently opened 23km N25 Waterford Bypass, which includes the award winning 465m Cable Stayed River Suir Bridge. The M8 motorway to Cork now bypasses Abbeyleix, Durrow and Cullahill, reducing travel times by up to 45 minutes and extends the existing M7 Portlaoise Bypass, bypassing Mountrath, and Borris-in-Ossory on the road to Limerick. It was opened 4 months ahead of schedule and within Budget. Officially opening the new motorway, An Taoiseach said: “Improving road infrastructure between and within regions will contribute towards the competitiveness of the area and foster more balanced regional development. In particular, the resulting safer and improved journey times will have a very positive impact on the economy by making the Midlands, South West and Midwest more accessible and attractive for foreign inward investment.”

After the opening ceremony Theo Cullinane CEO of BAM commented “We are delighted to have delivered this significant phase of the road network, linking our two largest cities. Ireland will greatly benefit from having modern, safe infrastructure and the reduced travel times that now exist between all our major cities.”