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Irish Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey will officially open the long-awaited Carlow bypass this afternoon.
It is expected the new 18km bypass will reduce the number of vehicles congesting the centre of Carlow, by 9,000 daily. Saving motorists up to 30 minutes during peak time journeys.
The €216m bypass is the first section of the Dublin to Waterford Corridor to open. The entire project is planned are completion by 2010.
Today’s by-pass launch will take place at the Rathcrogue interchange, with the new road opening immediately afterwards.
The Carlow bypass leaves the existing N9 at Powerstown, near the Carlow-Kildare border, and travels in a southeasterly direction passing east of Paletine, Co Carlow, turning south to cross the N80 at Rathcrogue and turning southwest to rejoin the N9 at Prumplestown, Co Kildare.
Work is underway on two linking sections of the N9 to the north and south of the Carlow bypass. The 28km Kilcullen to Carlow stretch is due to open in late 2010, and the section south of the Carlow bypass, from Prumplestown to Knocktopher, Co Kilkenny, is also expected to open in late 2010.
(PR)
