SOME €324 MILLION is going to be spent upgrading regional and local roads across the country.
It will mean some 2,035 kilometers being strengthened and 1,980 kilometers of road being maintained by getting surface dressed.
Local Authorities can now plan ahead and decide their annual work programmes following the announcement of the 2017 grant allocations.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, said the priority in 2017 continues to be the maintenance of our existing road network which will enhance safety and support job growth in local areas.
While the funding in 2017 will largely continue to support the maintenance of our current regional road network I am also pleased to announce funding for a small number of larger road improvement projects.
Breakdown
Ross said that, “As well as expenditure on maintenance and strengthening, the 2017 investment programme also allows for a number of Capital Plan projects to progress”.
These projects include:
The Minister added that, “A number of projects will also support industry and facilitate increased employment including road infrastructure improvements in the vicinity of the proposed Center Parc development in Longford.”
Those projects include:
In addition there are urban regeneration projects at Coonagh to Knockalisheen (Moyross) in Limerick and Eastern Garavogue Bridge in Sligo.
Road improvement schemes in Longford and the Tallow Link Road in Waterford have also received an allocation.
A number of critically deficient bridges on regional roads around the country will also be included, these are:
Ross said, “There is also provision for 219 bridge rehabilitation schemes and 185 safety improvement projects to be carried out.
The main focus of the safety improvements scheme is to improve safety at locations where collisions have taken place.
“Funding of over €1.3m will be allocated to local authorities to continue with the implementation of 30km/h speed limits in housing estates across Ireland.”
Main features
The Minister added that local authorities are best placed to assess priorities within their areas and considerable autonomy is given to local authorities under grant headings to decide their work programme.
The main features of the investment programme include:
These grants do not represent the total investment in regional and local roads for this year, but act as a supplement for local authorities own resources.
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