Good News for Ballyragget - N77 Ballynaslee Road Realignment & N77 Ballyragget Pavement Improvement
N77 Ballynaslee Road Realignment Scheme
The Ballynaslee Road Realignment scheme provides for a 2km realignment of the N77 national secondary route and includes an at-grade priority junction allowing access to and from the 'bypassed' section of the existing N77. This 'bypassed' section shall be re-classified as a local road and shall serve local access needs only.
The existing road on this section of the N77 has a restricted capacity due to its limited cross section and sub-standard alignment, which in association with the high level of private domestic and agricultural accesses presents a hazard to road-users and contributes to unstable traffic flow regimes. It is considered therefore that the existing national secondary road is economically inefficient, and detracts from the development and growth of the locality that it serves.
In the period 2012 to mid 2014, Kilkenny County Council acquired the lands necessary to the deliver the project and undertook an Advance Works Contract so as to minimise the main contract construction period.
Following an Open Tender process for the Main Contract in the autumn of this year, Fox Contracts were identified as the successful tenderers with a tender submission of just under €2.63 million (Incl. Vat.). The contract awarding this project was signed on the 2nd of December 2014. Works are expected to commence before Christmas, with an anticipated opening date for the new section of road in autumn 2015.
The overall cost to deliver this project from planning and design stage through to construction completion is estimated at just over €5.8 million.
Pictured at the signing of the contract
From L-R Mr. Simon Walton A/ Director of Services, KCC, Cllr. Pat Millea, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Mr. Finbar Fox, Fox Contracts, Mr. Frank Stafford, Senior Executive Engineer, KCC.
N77 Ballyragget Pavement Improvement Scheme
The scheme comprises of a structural improvement of the existing N77 National Secondary Road in Ballyragget Village, from Castle Street Bridge, for a distance of 900 metres, through the Square extending out to the River Nore bridge along Bridge Street. In addition, traffic calming measures will be introduced by way of reduced carriageway widths, provision of recessed parking and the widening and upgrading to existing footpaths.
Following an Open Tender process for this contract in the autumn of this year, Mallwood Ltd., was appointed to carry out the works and the contract was officially signed on 2nd December 2014. The scheme is programmed to start in January 2015 and is expected to be completed by mid April 2015.
An overall grant allocation of €550,000 has been secured from the National Roads Authority for the design construction, supervision and delivery of this project.
This project when complete will further compliment the enhancement works that were completed in the Square earlier this year.
Pictured at the signing of the Contract
Front L-R Mr. Simon Walton A/ Director of Services, KCC, Cllr. Pat Millea, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Mr. Des Kent, Mallwood Ltd., Back L-R Mr. Frank Stafford, Senior Executive Engineer, KCC, Mr. Mark McGee, Mallwood Ltd.
Related Links:
