1 2008 Annual Report & Accounts National Roads Authority Annual Report & Accounts 2008 2 National Roads Authority Annual Report & Accounts 2008 Contents Chairman’s Foreword 2 3 Chief Executive’s Statement 3 Implementing National Strategy 4 • Transport 21 • Accomplishments 2008 • Goals 2009 Sustainable Development 10 • Planning • Research • Environment • Archaeology Public Private Partnership Programme 16 Network Services and Operations 18 • M50 Barrier-Free Tolling • Road Safety • Winter Maintenance • Signage and Delineation • Travel Information Service for Drivers • Tunnels • Bridges • Service Areas About the National Roads Authority 22 • Establishment and Mandate • Customer Charter • Human Resources • Occupational Health and Safety • Risk Management • Information Technology • Financial Control Unit • Audit Committee Prompt Payments of Accounts Act, 1997 26 Financial Statements 27 Board Members 46 Appendices 2008 Road Grant Payments to Local Authorities 47 2009 Road Grant Allocations to Local Authorities 48 National Roads Authority Annual Report & Accounts 2008 Chairman’s Foreword One of the major constraints on economic 2 development is poor infrastructure. It is accepted that development strategies which target infrastructure deficiencies drive economic growth. There have been a number of benefits from the newly completed sections of motorway that have opened over last few years. They include the road safety benefit through the elimination of head-on collisions and an improved pedestrian environment with the reduction of through traffic within villages and towns. Additionally, businesses have It can be said with conviction that I would like to acknowledge and benefitted from improved efficiencies the roads programme continues thank our Minister for Transport, associated with a modern road to operate at a high level of Mr. Noel Dempsey, T.D., for network and our tourism industry achievement. This is in no small part ensuring Government’s continuing has applauded the ease with which a result of the management and commitment to the national roads visitors can now traverse our beautiful engineering expertise within the programme and the work carried out island. National Roads Authority (NRA), an by our partners in the Department important asset which I and my fellow of Transport which has assisted us In these challenging economic times Board members greatly appreciate. in its delivery. I would also like to it is imperative that the momentum In terms of the wider construction acknowledge the fine work of all created by the current national industry, it is vital that the substantial the local authorities, regional design roads programme is maintained expertise built up in this sector in offices, consultants and my fellow because Ireland’s island economy is recent years would continue to be NRA Board members. Additionally, heavily dependent on the efficient utilised. I would like to thank the entire NRA movement of goods and people. The staff; their high level of dedication, visionary planning embarked upon On the budgetary front, the Authority expertise and professionalism by Government under the Transport will maintain our ‘value for money’ continues to ensure that national 21 Plan must be safeguarded so ethos that has been embedded road projects are delivered on time that Ireland has a modern national within the organisation. The prudent and within budget, thus guaranteeing road network on a par with the utilisation of taxpayer funding, that the taxpayer receives value for best in Europe. Indeed, the national coupled with the significant injection money. roads programme, which forms an of additional funding through the integral element of Government’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) National Development Plan, 2007- mechanism, will ensure Ireland’s 2013, constitutes a vital component national road network can provide a in meeting the challenges of high quality level of service well into sustainable economic development the future. Peter Malone in the face of current fiscal Chairman constraints. National Roads Authority Annual Report & Accounts 2008 Chief Executive’s Statement The year 2008 was one of continuing success and achievement in the development of the national 3 road network. We made considerable progress in improving the quality of life for both road users and residents of the bypassed towns and villages and in contributing to national economic competitiveness by developing, maintaining and operating the national road network in a safe, cost-effective and sustainable manner. This progress will be continued in 2009. The capital budget for the NRA, Also, Phase 1 and Phase 3 of the Our achievements result from the which despite theto the economic economic M50 upgrade works which include hard work and dedication of the NRA downturn for 2009 is nonetheless very the N7 interchange, N4 interchange, staff and our local authority partners, signifi cant at €1.4 billion, will enable Ballymount junction and mainline supported by consulting engineers, us to target completion of the Major expansion were completed in 2008. archaeologists, suppliers, contractors Inter-UrbanInter-Urban (MIU)(MIU) networknetwork byby 2010,2010, Work will continue on the remaining and our colleagues at the while continuing strategic planning sections of the M50 upgrade project Department of Transport. I would like activities to ensure that we emerge which is scheduled for full completion to acknowledge their professionalism fromfrom thethe currentcurrent fi nancial downturn by the end of 2010. and dedication and to thank the NRA well placed to take full advantage Board for their enthusiasm, support The NRA’s Public Private Partnership of the economic recovery that will and direction. programme is recognised follow.follow. WeWe will continue to make internationally as being one of the progress against the Government’s best in the world. It is a tribute to the strategic objectives, ensuring that success of the programme to date the NRA will continue to develop and that the Government has authorised improveimprove asas anan organisation.organisation. the NRA to raise a further €1 billion One of the more signifi cant in private sector funding for the Fred Barry challenges over the last year was construction of a new tranche of Chief Executive the continuing transformationtransformation ofof the PPP projects. The tender process for theM50 M50 corridor. corridor. In August In August of that 2008 year we the first of these PPP concessions will replacedwe replaced the theWest West Link Linktoll plazatoll plaza begin in 2009. with a barrier-free tolling system. We have now begun to deliver the levellevel ofof serviceservice expectedexpected byby allall usersusers travelling along the M50 corridor. National Roads Authority Annual Report & Accounts 2008 Implementing National Strategy 4 Transport 21 (2006-2015) & National Development Plan (2007-2013) Transport 21 and the National Development Plan set out a comprehensive development programme for the network of national roads over the period 2006 to 2015. Status At the start of 2009, 478km of new road are under construction. Effective management of this high level of activity will continue to be our primary task in 2009. Current Status is as follows: ■ Complete the MIU routes by 2010, totalling 738km (mainline) to motorway or equivalent Major Inter-Urban Routes standard. M1 M4/N6 – 57% opened to traffic M7 M8 – 43% under construction N9 BELFAST Atlantic Road Corridor ■ Complete 850km of additional new road by 2015. – 209km open to traffic at end of 2008 – 148km under construction ■ €2 billion private investment secured for the national roads programme DUBLIN GALWAY Atlantic Road Corridor – current status A total of 28km of improvements on the Atlantic corridor have already opened to traffic, including the N15 Ballyshannon to Bundoran bypass, the N18 LIMERICK Ennis bypass and the N25 Kinsalebeg realignment. WATERFORD Additional improvements include: ■ N7 Limerick Tunnel (PPP), under construction. ■ N25 Waterford City Bypass (PPP), under CORK construction. ■ N18 Gort to Crusheen, under construction. National Roads Authority Annual Report & Accounts 2008 5 M6 Phase II Kilbeggan Athlone Section of N6 Phase II At the start of 2009, 478km of new road are under construction. National Roads Authority Annual Report & Accounts 2008 Accomplishments 2008 ■ Introduced barrier-free tolling on ■ Spent €330 million on land and 6 the M50. property acquisition in respect of national roads schemes. ■ Completed M50 Upgrade Phase 1 (between Ballymount and N4 ■ Submitted applications to An Bord junctions). Pleanála for new service areas. ■ Completed M50 Upgrade Phase 3 ■ Submitted applications for (between West-Link toll plaza and sections of the N2, N3, N4, N6, N7, N8, N11 Kilpeddar N3 junction). N11,N8, N N18,11, N18, N20/N21 N20/ junctionN21 junction to to Delgany Interchange the Minister for Transport seeking ■ Completed seven new road motorway status for the dual projects totalling 139km of carriageways concerned. motorway and standard dual carriageway within budget with ■ Commenced National Secondary the majority of these ahead of Roads Needs Study. schedule. ■ Commenced National Traffic ■ Commenced work on five Management Study. projects totalling 150km of new ■ Commenced process to raise a national roads. further €1 billion in PPP funding. ■ Commenced construction on the ■ Completed the NRA Companion three remaining sections on the Landscape Treatment MIUs – N7 Castletown to Nenagh, Implementation Guidelines. N9 Carlow to Knocktopher and the