The Onward March of Ireland`s Infrastructure

The 1989 National Road Needs Study recommended that improvements be made to the N9 and the N10.
The Onward March of Ireland`s Infrastructure
A monument overlooking the N9 near Moone, County Kildare (Martin Murphy/The Epoch Times)
7/28/2008
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/moon-50.jpg" alt="A monument overlooking the N9 near Moone, County Kildare (Martin Murphy/The Epoch Times)" title="A monument overlooking the N9 near Moone, County Kildare (Martin Murphy/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1834727"/></a>
A monument overlooking the N9 near Moone, County Kildare (Martin Murphy/The Epoch Times)
In the National Road Needs Study published in 1998, it was recommended that improvements should be made to the N9 and the N10 between Waterford and Kilcullen Co. Kildare. An objective of providing a high quality service to the national primary road network was also included.


The initial design of the section of the N9 between Kilcullen and Carlow was carried out by Kildare Co. Council, and in August 2004 tenders were invited for the construction of Phase 1 of Carlow By-Pass. Construction work commenced in July 2006 for an 18.5km stretch of road which is now the ‘Carlow By-Pass’.

A major aspect of the work was the protecting and preserving of our ‘Archaeological Past’. To the east of Carlow town there had already been archaeological finds, leading to the likelihood of further searches in that area being essential. The outcome of this work was most revealing. The knowledge gleaned will greatly add to our understanding and research into the County’s pre-historic and later historic periods. A total of sixty four sites were excavated in advance of the road construction programme.

Eight of the sites produced stone tool assemblages dating to the late Mesolithic period (7000-4000 BC) very significant additions to the evidence of pre-farming communities that formerly inhabited the area and survived on the migratory activities of hunting, gathering and fishing.

Carlow’s earliest known house was discovered at Russellstown, a large rectangular oak built structure. Radiocarbon dating of hazelnut shells from the foundation has confirmed that it dates to the Neolithic period dating to a range of 3776-3636 BC.
Extensive evidence of settlement remains, prehistoric burial and ceremonial activities such as cremation deposits ranging from the Early /Middle Bronze Ages dating 4043-37BC. Specialist analysis of the excavation archive is on-going and final reports for all sites are scheduled for completion before the end of 2008.

The protection of the environment was also of significant importance as the route of the new road link was through an area of scenic beauty, also the National Roads Authority had a deep interest in protecting the environment and seeking to minimise the effects of the duel carriageway on the surrounding countryside.

Environmental and historical considerations were of ultimate importance to the design team in the course of planning and construction of the duel carriageway. Underpasses were built for badgers and other wild-life with fencing to prevent them accessing the carriageway. With all these issues safely completed it was just a matter of concentrating on the construction of the new By-pass. Everything progressed as planned and on time.

In the mean time traffic congestion was increasing within Carlow town and the surrounding towns. The local roads were congested and through traffic suffered long delays.
Eventually the day came when the By-pass was completed; it was completed on time and within budget at a cost of €216.5 million.

The big day came and on 29th May 2008 Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D. Minister for transport officially opened the new 18.5km Carlow by-pass with the following comments:

“I’m delighted to see another major development in our national road programme, not just for the people of Carlow and Kildare but for everyone travelling along the N7 and N9 corridors. The new 18.5km Carlow by-pass will see over 9,000 vehicles a day removed from Carlow’s streets, giving the streets of Carlow back to their rightful owners ‘the people.’ This has indeed happened. The reduced congestion, lesser noise and environmental pollution as well as improved safety are all aspects of the onward march of Ireland’s infrastructure.”