Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Transport the position in relation to the upgrading promised of the M50; the schedule for the upgrade of the intersections on the M50 and in particular the expected dates for the work to be carried out in relation to the Blanchardstown-Castleknock area of the M50 including the toll gate. [33614/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the M50 upgrade, is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the local authorities concerned.

I understand from the NRA that the upgrade of the M50 is being planned in two phases and involves the widening of approximately 32 km of the motorway from two to three lanes in each direction, from the M50-M1 interchange near Dublin Airport through to the Sandyford interchange and the upgrade of ten junctions along this length.

The NRA envisages that a design and build contract will be awarded by December 2005 for phase one, i.e. the widening of the carriageway to three lanes between the Red Cow, N7, and Galway road, N4, roundabouts and the upgrading of the interchanges. That work is expected to be underway early next year and completed by 2007.

The PPP contract for the remainder of the upgrade project — that is, widening of the remainder to three lanes and upgrading of other interchanges — is expected to be awarded during 2006 and works are due to be completed by mid 2010.

I also understand from the NRA that a separate design and build contact for the upgrading of the West Link section of the M50 — that is, 3.2 km of motorway between Galway road junction and Navan road junction, including the West Link toll bridge — is expected to be advertised before the end of this year and works are due to be completed by end 2007.