Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 31: To ask the Minister for Transport the cost of each stage of the M50 upgrade; and the financing operations that are in place for said upgrade. [35853/06]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 55: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding phase two and phase three of the upgrade of the M50; and the timescale proposed for these works. [35786/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 55 together.

At the outset, I should explain that overall responsibility for 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 have no function in relation to the day-to-day operation of these projects.

In addition, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads, including the M50, is vested in the National Roads Authority (NRA) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000).

I understand that the upgrade work on the M50 is being undertaken in three phases. Phase 1 comprises the widening of the carriageway between the N4 (Galway Road roundabout) and Ballymount interchanges and the upgrading of the N4, N7 and Ballymount interchanges. This work is currently under way and is expected to be completed in mid-2008 at a projected cost of approximately €244m. This phase is being funded by the Exchequer through the National Roads Programme.

Phase 2 which is being administered as a Public Private Partnership project will comprise of the widening of the remainder of the M50 (other than the 3.2km West-Link section between the N3 and N4 junctions) and the upgrade of the other interchanges. The contract for Phase 2 is to be awarded in 2007 and construction is expected to be completed in 2010. The exact cost of this contract will be finalised following receipt of tenders for the project.

Phase 3 comprises the widening of the 3.2km West-Link section between the N3 and N4 junctions which is expected to be completed by mid 2008. This phase is being funded by the Exchequer through the State's proceeds of the toll revenue from the West-Link Toll Facility and the expected final cost will be established following receipt of tenders for the project.

The total projected cost of the M50 upgrade is approximately €1bn, of which about 75% (i.e. Phases 2 and 3) will be funded from the future stream of toll revenue.

Separately the NRA are procuring the replacement of the current West Link toll plaza with barrier free tolling. It is intended that this will be introduced during 2008 in tandem with the completion of phase 1 of the M50 upgrade.

I expect, therefore, that significant improvements in the situation on the M50 will take place in 2008. Further improvement will take place on completion of the later phases of the upgrade in 2010. In the meantime, traffic management in the area is being monitored on an ongoing basis with measures being taken where possible to alleviate traffic congestion resulting from the road works.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 32: To ask the Minister for Transport the cost benefit analysis carried out on the major roads programme laid down in the 2000 to 2006 National Development Plan; the time reduction targets set for major roads; and the most recent measured journey times on national roads here. [35862/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Cost benefit analyses are carried out on national road projects by the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the provisions of the Roads Act 1993.

Cost benefit analysis is carried out on a project-by-project basis in respect of major national road improvement schemes constructed under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2000-2006. This practice fully accords with the Department of Finance's "Guidelines for the Appraisal and Management of Capital Expenditure Proposals in the Public Sector".

Target travel time savings were set for the five major inter urban routes (Dublin to Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford and the Northern Ireland border) mandated in the NDP. These targets were published in the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme (ESIOP) 2000-2006. The objective was to save a total of approximately 188 minutes in journey times on these five routes by the end of 2010. A number of interim travel time saving targets were also specified. The relevant target for the end of 2006 is a total travel time saving of 86 minutes on these five routes. The most recent figures available relate to June 2006 and are available in the ESIOP Progress Report on Programme Implementation to end June 2006. These figures show that total travel time savings of 91 minutes have been achieved, thereby already exceeding the relevant target for 2006.