Several roads schemes to progress as Kilkenny gets €17.7m for repairs and upgrades

Kilkenny is to get €17.767 million for regional and local road repairs and upgrades

The €17,767,860 allocation was confirmed by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan as part of a €626 million investment programme for 2023 for regional and local roads all across the country. It represents an increase in funding of €20 million for road pavement and rehabilitation works. The funding package will allow approximately 3,100kms of regional and local roads to be maintained and 2,550kms to be strengthened.

Among the largest allocations for Kilkenny are:

·       Waterford Road to Outrath Road Stormwater Evaluation €100,000

·       Kilkenny Ring Road €100,000

·       Lavistown Bridge, Sion Road, Kilkenny €30,000

·       Drakelands Middle, Kilkenny City €81,000

·       Slieverue. Junction with LT34112 junction €60,000

·       Rehabilitation works to the NN10 €348,000

·       Works on the N9 €233,000.

Local TD John Paul Phelan has said the investment is very welcome.

“This investment will ensure that roads throughout the county are safer and maintained to a high standard. Much improvement has taken place in recent years, particularly around schools and residential areas. But the upgrade and maintenance of all of our roads is a priority and I’m glad to see some key works included in this investment,” he said.

The investment in Carlow-Kilkenny’s road network has also been welcomed by Minister of State Malcolm Noonan.

“I know it’s a priority for the Minister of Transport to invest in our existing regional and local road network, because as most people would agree it makes more sense to protect and repair our roads quickly rather than letting them fall into more expensive disrepair. What we’re seeing in this announcement is €8.2 million for Carlow roads, and €17.7 for Kilkenny, and in both counties the bulk of that investment is for restoration and maintenance work," he said.

“I’m really pleased also to see a strand within this funding that specifically addresses climate adaptation and resilience works. Our local and regional roads are so important for local connectivity, and the impact of climate change and an increase in extreme weather events is not just contributing to wear and tear on our roads, it actually puts that connectivity at risk. So, it is vitally important, and prudent, that government prioritises this kind of strategic investment to future-proof our regional towns and cities and our rural communities.

“Within this funding, for both counties, we are providing for a range of schemes from larger strategic road improvements to smaller-scale road improvements and critical bridge rehabilitation works. In Kilkenny, that Climate Change Adaptation work will include flood relief at Ballynametagh, bridge repairs and resurfacing at Goatsbridge, and €100,000 for stormwater evaluation at the Waterford Road to Outrath Road. There’s also significant investment in 19 bridges across both Carlow and Kilkenny, along with a programme of work to bring about critical safety improvements across the regional and local road network.”