Over €40m To Be Invested Into Midlands Roads

Tuesday, 14 February 2023 15:33

The Government announced the funding today.

Over €40m is being investing in roads in the midlands.

The Department of funding is allocating €15,539,300 to Offaly County Council, with just over €14,134,435 going to Westmeath, while the local authority in Laois will have €13,586,290 to spend.

Nationally, €626m will be spent on regional and local roads.

The funding will be used to carry out repairs to local bridges, improve safety at junctions and to alleviate traffic congestion in towns.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan says "our main priority in 2023 continues to be the protection and renewal of the existing regional and local road network because that is the one thing you don’t curtail. It makes more sense to protect and repair our roads quickly rather than letting them fall into more expensive disrepair. We are providing funding for a range of schemes from larger strategic road improvements to smaller scale road improvements and critical bridge rehabilitation works. An important part of this allocation is the climate change adaptation grant which was introduced for works on roads at risk due to the impact of climate change and severe weather events. This funding will continue in 2023 with €16 million being allocated for 329 climate change adaptation projects. We have seen great progress because of this grant already. Some of the projects which will be completed in 2023 seawall repairs in Kinsale, Co. Cork, to embankment restructuring in Ballybunion, Co. Kerry."

Minister of State Jack Chambers commented: This funding is allocated to a broad variety of road maintenance and improvement aspects. €11 million is being allocated to road safety schemes that target remedial measures to improve road safety for vulnerable road users and vehicular traffic. This funding will allow in excess of 300 safety projects to be carried out. This also includes provision to continue on a signage programme which includes signage to support lower speed limits in housing areas, rural speed limit signage and a “safe passing” cycle sign.

Funding of €26 million is also being provided under the Specific Grant category for smaller scale road improvements. These grants comprise a mix of schemes, including bridgeworks, measures to improve safety, such as junction reconfiguration, together with schemes to alleviate traffic congestion in towns and improve access to centres of education, businesses and public transport such as the Edenderry Relief Road, County Offaly and Rice Bridge Rehabilitation, Waterford City.