Govt Signs Contract To Upgrade Newlands Cross Exchange

Labour T.D. for Dublin Mid-West, Robert Dowds has welcomed news today that the Government has signed the contract for the upgrade of the Newlands Cross interchange.

After many delays, construction will begin on the project in 4 to 6 weeks, and be completed in less than two years. The project is being done as part of a package with the Arklow-Rathnew upgrade, coming in at a total cost of €282 million.

Mr Dowds said: "I am very glad that the Government has signed the contract which will see Newlands Cross upgraded with a flyover, removing the last set of traffic lights between Cork and the border with Northern Ireland. The traffic at Newlands Cross has been causing delays to people in our community for many years, and I am glad to be able to say that thanks to this Government, we are going to put an end to that.

"I've been keeping the pressure on the NRA to get this project up and running as soon as possible. This is a junction that has been causing severe traffic problems for the residents of Clondalkin, Saggart, Newcastle and Rathcoole over many years. With 80,000 vehicles going through the junction every day, this project will make a real difference to commuters and businesses within our community by putting an end to the gridlock around the intersection.

"There were several delays to this project related to the European Financial Crisis, but thankfully, the investors in this project have put their faith in us that we will get through this crisis, and that the country will get back on its feet. If they didn't believe that, they would not have invested all this money. Under the chaos of the last government, this project simply would not have happened. The signing of this contract today is a real sign of how we have stabilised things and restored faith in Ireland."

(CD)