M7 Portlaoise - Castletown & M8 Portlaoise - Cullahill Road Scheme

The Need for the scheme

The National Development Plan (2000 -2006) identified a number of transport objectives including:

• Improving the reliability of the road transport system
• Providing better access between regions
• Removing bottlenecks
• Improving road safety.

The existing N7 and N8 routes from Portlaoise - Castletown and Portlaoise -Cullahill suffer from peak period congestion at the towns along the routes.

Sections of these roads are narrow with limited opportunities for overtaking. Driver and pedestrian safety is compromised because the existing roads are used by long distance users as well as local users. A new dual carriageway/ motorway would separate long distance traffic from other traffic, and have safety, environmental and economic benefits.

The existing road network will experience reduced traffic volumes (including the numbers of commercial vehicles) and reduced congestion in the towns. Driving conditions for the long distance road user on the proposed road will be easier. Both local users on the existing road network and traffic on the proposed road will experience reduced journey times and improved road safety.

Continuity will be maintained on the Minor Road Network.