October 2010

The M9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Phase 4:  Carlow/Knocktopher Rd was officially opened to traffic on Thurs 9th Sept 2010 by the Minister for the Environment, Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D., completing the 116km stretch of motorway from the M7/M9 junction in Co. Kildare through to Grannagh, Co. Waterford. 

The Carlow/Knocktopher section of the M9 consists of 40km of high quality dual carriageway, incorporating 3 new grade separated junctions. This scheme also includes a new single carriageway link road to Kilkenny city (N10) which runs 6.5km in length. This new section of the motorway completes the fourth inter-urban motorway by connecting Waterford to Dublin via the new M9. The scheme was constructed by Roadbridge-Sisk under a Design and Build contract with Fehily Timoney Gifford completing the detailed design of the scheme in partnership with WYG Ireland.

The scheme bypasses the towns of Knocktopher, Stoneyford, Kilkenny, Paulstown, Thomastown, Dungarvan and Gowran and results in an estimated reduction of the journey time by up to 30 minutes. This scheme came in on budget at €467 milion and 3 months ahead of schedule.