Project Opening
On Friday, 28th May 2010: An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, TD, opened the final section of the M8 Dublin to Cork motorway. The new wishbone-shaped 41km M7/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill / Castletown PPP Motorway Scheme was completed four months ahead of schedule in a PPP partnership between the National Roads Authority and Celtic Roads Group (Portlaoise) Ltd. It will cut up to 45 minutes off the Dublin to Cork journey at peak times as it provides a motorway / dual carriageway link between Dublin and Cork, of which 218km or 91% is motorway. It is also a significant section of the M7 motorway link between Dublin and Limerick.
Benefits of the scheme:
- Cut up to 45 minutes off the Dublin to Cork journey at peak times.
- Reduce traffic congestion and improve quality of life and safety by bypassing six towns - Abbeyleix, Durrow and Cullahill on the M8 and in Mountrath, Borris-in-Ossory and Castletown on the M7.
- Provide 41km of motorway in each direction - 17km M7/M8 for all traffic; another 10km for M7 traffic only, and an additional 14km for M8 traffic only.
- Contribute towards safer journeys.
- Provide a high quality and reliable road transport network between regions and connect the Midlands, South and Midwest to Dublin, the East and the North.
Project Description:
The 41km M7/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill / Castletown PPP Motorway Scheme, starts at the western end of the existing Portlaoise Bypass and initially travels in a south-westerly direction. After travelling for 17km along the scheme the M7/M8 motorway to motorway interchange at Aghaboe takes the road in two separate directions; the 10km M7 section continues to the west towards Borris-in-Ossory, while the M8 proceeds 14km to the south to tie into the existing M8 to Cork, just south of Cullahill.
