Economic recovery allows for €10,004,269 investment in Wicklow & Carlow roads – Doyle

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/ East Carlow, Andrew Doyle has today (Tuesday) welcomed the news that a total of €3,656,226 and €6,348,043 has been allocated to Carlow and Wicklow respectively for road improvement and maintenance works. The funding is part of a €298 million national investment programme for 2016 for regional and local roads.

“Wicklow & Carlow are getting a real boost from this significant investment of €10,004,269 for both local and regional roads. The announcement of this funding allocation today by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, allows Wicklow & Carlow County Councils to plan their work programme for the year.

“Projects that will avail of this funding are Restoration Improvements and Maintenance, Discretionary Grant, Safety Improvement Works including Speed Limits.                  

Bridge Rehabilitation projects include: Grennhall Bridge, Ballyraheen, White Bridge, Avoca, Rathdrum Bridge, Fortgranite Bridge, Bay Bridge, Shillelagh, Ballinaclash Bridge, Cherrymount Bridge, Avoca in Wicklow and Spearpoint, Acuan and Tankardstown in Carlow.

“Safety Improvement Works on Regional and Local Roads include Calary Upper and Farrankelly Dual Carriageway in Wicklow and Rathoe to Castlemore Cross, Rathwade and Rathwade Cross in Carlow.

“The funding package will allow approximately 2,000 kilometres of regional and local roads to be maintained nationally and close to 2,000 kilometres strengthened this year.

“It is thanks to our recovering economy that we can make these kinds of investments in our road network which is a hugely important. It is good for tourism, increases efficiencies for businesses and benefits the local people who use the roads on a daily basis.

“Fine Gael has a long term economic plan designed to keep the recovery going which will ensure we can continue to make these kinds of investments. The plan has three steps: more and better jobs, making work pay more than welfare, and investment in better public services, which will only be possible as a result of the increased revenue generated by creating more jobs. This plan will ensure that more people feel the benefits of a recovering economy in their own lives.”