Newlands Cross junction to open next week

Newlands Cross free-flow junction in southwest Dublin is to open to traffic as early as next Thursday, the National Roads Authority (NRA) has said.

The junction will remove the final lights-controlled junction on the national network between the Border and Dunkettle in Cork.

The flyover crosses the regional R113 Belgard and Fonthill roads

Some 90,000 vehicles a day use the N7, the Republic’s second-busiest road after the M50, which carries more than 110,000 vehicles a day on average.

The scheme will reduce journey times significantly for interurban and local motorists, particularly commuters from Co Kildare and beyond.

Two-span bridge

The flyover comprises a two-span bridge structure with extensive approach embankments on the east and west sides of the junction. It will have three traffic lanes in each direction.

The materials for the embankment were sourced locally and environmentally friendly cement was used to minimise CO2 emissions.

The junction is part of a public-private partnership (PPP) project operated by Bam Contractors that includes building and maintaining the Arklow- to-Rathnew motorway in Co Wicklow.

The NRA has not disclosed the cost of the PPP but Bam Contractors’ website put the combined value of the Wicklow and Dublin elements at €126 million, without land costs.

The opening of the Newlands Cross junction was previously scheduled for spring 2015 but this was brought forward to January when better-than-expected progress was made.

Work complete

However, it is understood Bam Contractors notified the NRA on Wednesday that construction work was complete except for a single gantry.

The roads authority said it was planned to erect the gantry and associated signage on Monday with the official handover of the junction on Wednesday.

Spokesman Seán O’Neill said he expected the first daily commuters to use the new flyover would be doing so on Thursday morning.

Work is continuing on the Arklow-to-Rathnew motorway, which is due for completion between August and November next year.