The M8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown roads scheme has opened nine months ahead of schedule.

Costing €174m, the 16km motorway came in on budget and was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007–2013, with part funding by the European Union from the Trans-European Transport Networks Budget.

The scheme runs between Carrigane north of Mitchelstown and Moorepark north of Fermoy in county Cork.

It aims to cut at least 10 minutes off average journey times from Cork to Dublin, and is expected to be used by 16,000 vehicles per day.

The scheme was officially opened by the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, who welcomed its completion.

He said: "This particular project represents the achievement of a number of important targets.

"This road has opened nine months ahead of target, it provides improved access to the region, improved road safety and it is a further significant step towards the development of the entirety of the Cork-Dublin motorway identified in the NDP 2007-2013 and Transport 21."

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The Minister said, even in these times of significant economic constraint, the Government is determined to continue with roads building programme.

"This year alone we are spending almost €2bn on our national, regional and local roads building programme. This year eight major road projects, totalling 156 km of dual carriageway, will open to traffic delivering safer more efficient journey times for motorists," he said.

Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority, said: "The opening of the M8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown project is an exciting stage as it almost completes the main Dublin to Cork corridor,

"Just 14km of the M8 remains unopened to traffic but the final link is on schedule for completion next year. There is now 77 km of continuous modern roadway from Dublin to south of Portlaoise and 130km from Cullahill in County Laois to the Dunkettle Interchange in Cork."

He continued: "This will provide a much needed boost for the country’s commercial and industrial sectors. In these difficult economic conditions the National Roads Authority remains committed to delivering national road schemes on time and on budget."

Mr Malone added: "All five inter-city links connecting Dublin with Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and the Border will be open to traffic next year providing the country with a top class national road infrastructure."

(PR/BMcc)