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ROADS

Those comuters on the N25 Bridge, where the eight bridge environmental mitigation works to
New Ross road will have noticed piers have recently emerged from protect and retain the wildlife in
significant changes along the the ground on both sides of the the area.
route of the €230 million New river and risen to heights of up A number of interesting
Ross bypass in recent months as to 36 metres (roughly equivalent archaeological sites have been
construction progresses apace to a 12 storey building). These discovered during the project.
in advance of its opening in piers will support the bridge deck These include the remains of a
early 2019. Upon completion, and pylon towers which will wooden house erected by some
the 15km long scheme will be constructed in the coming of the first Stone Age farmers
improve safety for all road months. almost 6,000 years ago. An
users, significantly ease traffic This landmark structure will be example of a Bronze Age sweat
congestion in New Ross town the longest bridge in Ireland at lodge or sauna, probably dating
and enhance the economic nearly 900m. The bridge will from between 2,500 and 4,000
potential of the New Ross area have nine spans including two years ago was discovered during
and the wider region.
main central spans of 230m and construction. The remains of a
Commuters in particular three central towers supporting previously undocumented 14th
will notice temporary traffic these spans. The central spans century farm are also of particular
management operations on the are among the longest of their interest. Monitoring by a
main road links into New Ross: particular type in the world, and specialist archaeology team will be
on the N25 Waterford Road at the design and construction of maintained throughout the works.
Glenmore, the R733 Campile the bridge has proved to be an In excess of 600,000 working
Road at Camlin, the N25 exciting challenge for all of the hours have been devoted to the
Wexford Road at Ballymacar and engineers involved. The central construction of the project to
the N30 Enniscorthy/Dublin span over the river channel will date, with a workforce in excess of
Road at Corcoran’s Cross. These accommodate shipping navigation 300 people at peak times. Local
are to facilitate the construction of for the port of New Ross with a contractors, suppliers and small
road junctions, thus ensuring that clearance of 36m above water level businesses are benefitting both
the bypass will have high-quality in the river. directly and indirectly from the
connectivity with New Ross town A few figures provide some economic activity generated by
and environs as well as with all of context of the scope of works construction and further benefits
the key strategic commuter routes undertaken in the first 20 months will accrue during the subsequent
in the region.
of the contract. Over 1,000,000 operation and maintenance of the
Local residents will also have cubic metres of earthworks have road.
noticed localised temporary been excavated and re-used to Another large-scale project is
diversions along a number of date, including approx. 700,000 the extension of the M11 from
local roads in the area. These are cubic metres of rock. The total the southern end of Gorey to
to facilitate the construction of length of piling constructed for Enniscorthy. The new dual
road bridges over or under the the foundations of the Barrow carrigway motorway section is
bypass, thus ensuring that local Bridge reaches to nearly three 27km and is also on track for
communities are not severed by kilometres, and over 10,000 cubic completion in quater one 2018.
the new route. metres of concrete has been placed
to date in the foundations and For further info see:
Perhaps the most striking piers. Other works include 10 www.m11gtoe.ie and
transformation has been seen road bridges, a railway bridge, 16 www.n25newross.ie.
at the site of the River Barrow
farm underpasses and extensive

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