The N25 New Ross ByPass and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge is Now Open

The New Ross bypass scheme was opened to traffic at 10:15AM on Thursday, January 30th. It will significantly ease chronic traffic congestion in New Ross town offering time savings of up to 30 minutes. Additionally, it will provide efficiencies on the strategic N25 route from Cork to Rosslare Europort while also supporting the future growth and sustainability of New Ross Town and the South East region. The scheme also links the N25 route with the N30 New Ross to Enniscorthy route.

 

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar joined Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend at the official opening ceremony of the N25 New Ross Bypass by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Wexford County Council and Kilkenny County Council on Wednesday the 29th of January 2020.

 

The 15km Bypass Project includes the 887-metre long structure named the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge, the longest bridge in Ireland, and its two main spans are the longest post-tensioned concrete spans of their type in the world. The bridge crosses the River Barrow between Wexford and Kilkenny and forms a major part of the €230 million investment in the South East region and was delivered within budget.

 

The N25 New Ross Bypass, combined with the opening of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy motorway in July 2019, improves dramatically the overall connectivity and accessibility of Wexford, Kilkenny and the entire South East Region.

 

The N25 and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge PPP Scheme was officiated by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD and Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend in the presence of Mr Cormac O’Rourke Chairman TII, Cllr. Michael Sheehan Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council and Cllr Peter Cleere Chairman of Kilkenny County Council.

 

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “This new bypass, which includes Ireland’s longest bridge, will transform New Ross, Wexford, Kilkenny and the South-East. By reducing congestion and travel-times, improving road safety, and opening up economic opportunities, this will make a huge difference for commuters, for families, for businesses and for tourists. 

 

“As we face the reality of Brexit, this investment in greater connectivity to Rosslare is an investment in our future economic security. This bypass is part of the Project Ireland 2040 story and it’s also about connections. It’s about strengthening connectivity between different parts of our country, and strengthening our communities. Thanks to the hard-work and sacrifices of the people in the South East, backed by investment and the right policies we are seeing a remarkable comeback story for this area.”

 

The delivery of the N25 New Ross Bypass is the culmination of over 20 years work by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly National Roads Authority), Wexford County Council and Kilkenny County Council as well as technical advisors for the scheme, Mott MacDonald Ireland. Construction works were undertaken by New Ross Joint Venture, consisting of BAM Civil and Dragados. On average, a workforce of 300 people was employed throughout construction and approximately 2.5 million work hours were completed on-site to bring the scheme to fruition.

 

Speaking at the event great-grandchild of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy; Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend said, “This bridge is a wonderful tribute to my great grandmother, and a symbol of her enduring love and lesson that it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, we are all God's children. When some leaders threaten to drive us apart we need to honor those who build bridges that bring us together.”

 

Cormac O’Rourke Chairman Transport Infrastructure Ireland stated “The N25 New Ross Bypass Project has delivered one of Ireland’s most iconic structures.  This bridge not only spans the River Barrow but also brings the communities of Wexford and Kilkenny closer together”.

 

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Michael Sheehan said the new road network will enable the redevelopment of the region, unleash potential and rejuvenate New Ross. “I would like to congratulate all of the people involved in every aspect of today’s project on a job well done. In the arc of our County’s history, today marks a pivotal moment and a zenith in our own lives, as we will proudly remember this occasion with a sense of historical achievement, building a bridge to a better future. Our time has come; a new chapter in our future is now ours to write. With a global marvel of engineering and a sophisticated road network at our door, County Wexford is now ripe for a new era of investment, industry and interest.”

 

Chairman of Kilkenny County Council Peter Cleere said, “The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy bridge itself is an engineering wonder. It will attract visitors both nationally and internationally just to admire its presence and the engineering skills that it has taken to design and build. I would like to congratulate everyone that has been involved in making this project happen.”

   

Wexford County Council Chief Executive, Tom Enright said, “The N25 New Ross Bypass is another vital link in the overall connectivity and safer access to and from the South East Region; to and from County Wexford and the town of New Ross in particular. This major infrastructural development will help to attract investment into the Region. The resolution of the chronic traffic congestion in New Ross will result in environmental and quality of life improvements, which will make the historic town a destination of choice. With this significant development, the possibilities and prospects for New Ross, County Wexford and indeed the South East Region are brighter than ever.”

 

Kilkenny County Council Chief Executive, Colette Byrne said, “The opening of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge is a great day for the town of New Ross, the communities and residents in South Kilkenny and Wexford and the wider South East Region. The completion of this project coupled with the Enniscorthy Bypass significantly improves connectivity from the South East Region to Dublin.Bridges connect places, communities and people. This bridge will enable communities to work together for the betterment of both Wexford and Kilkenny. May all who use this bridge travel safely.”

 

The 35th president of the United States, John F Kennedy’s ancestors hail from Dunganstown, Wexford. The Kennedy Homestead is less than one mile from the new bridge. President Kennedy proudly visited his family town of New Ross in the summer of 1963. The late president’s sister, former US ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith suggested the bridge be named after their mother, in memory of the entire extended family. For further details and to view progresss videos and timelapses of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge construction see: https://www.n25newross.ie/project-updates/

 

 

ENDS 

 

 

 

The delivery of the N25 New Ross Bypass is the culmination of over 20 years work by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly National Roads Authority), Wexford County Council and Kilkenny County Council as well as technical advisors for the scheme, Mott MacDonald Ireland. The project has been delivered as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Contract between Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the PPP Company, consisting of BAM PPP, PGGM Infrastructure Coöperatie U.A. and Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras S.A.

 

Construction works were undertaken by New Ross Joint Venture, consisting of BAM Civil and Dragados. Arup and Carlos Fernandez Casado acted as designers for New Ross Joint Venture. On average, a workforce of 300 people was employed throughout construction and approximately 2.5 million work hours were completed on site to bring the scheme to fruition.

 

Taking into account optimal operational and safety considerations, the road will open to public traffic at noon on Thursday 30th January, 2020.

 

14km of new dual carriageway N25 & N30 National Primary Routes.

1km of new single carriageway N30 National Primary Route.

Three new at-grade roundabout junctions creating connections between the new mainline and the existing N25 and N30.

One semi-compact grade-separated junction connecting the mainline with the R733 Road to Hook Peninsula.

Approx. 22 km of new regional, local and access roads.

46 Principal Structures including 3 road overbridges, 8 road underbridges, 1 rail overbridge, 16 farm underpasses and one 887m long three-tower extrados bridge carrying the mainline over the River Barrow.

 

The project will support the future growth and sustainability of New Ross town and the wider region and investment in excess of €50 million is proposed in the coming years, including the following initiatives:

• Improvements to the public realm in New Ross Town as well as access routes into the town.

• The development of the New Ross to Waterford Greenway with a further extension to Hook Head.

• New tourism and recreation initiatives.

The Bypass is directly facilitating these initiatives by removing congestion from New Ross and arterial routes into the town.

 

 

• €230 MILLION – total scheme budget (capital costs)

• 46 ROUTE OPTIONS – assessed initially, reduced down to 5 before the preferred route option was identified.

 

• 887m LONG - Ireland’s longest bridge

• 230m CENTRAL SPANS - Longest post-tensioned concrete deck spans of their type in the world

• 70,000 TONNES OF CONCRETE – over 3,500 lorry loads

• 7,000 TONNES OF REINFORCING STEEL – similar to the weight of Eiffel Tower

• 500KM OF CABLING WIRE – for deck stay cables, a similar length to the island of Ireland

• 150 TONNES OF FORM TRAVELLER – temporary formwork system suspended from the end of the cantilevered deck to pour sequential concrete deck segments

• 36 METRES ABOVE WATER– deck level above high tide

• 27 METRES ABOVE DECK– the height of the central tower above deck level

• 40 METRE DEEP PILES – of 1.2-metre diameter and anchored 10 metres into the rock for foundations at Pier 4

 

• 285,000 TREES & SHRUBS – planted along the scheme

• 125,000 TONNES OF BITUMINOUS MATERIAL – laid for road pavements

• 16 FARM UNDERPASSES – constructed to accommodate the passage of livestock and machinery

• 20 MAMMAL UNDERPASSES – under the road to connect foraging routes

• 1,000 PEOPLE – in excess of this amount of people worked on-site

• 14 NATIONALITIES – contributed to the work on site

• 2.5 MILLION HOURS – approx. worked on site

 

32 previously unknown archaeological sites were uncovered and excavated by archaeologists from TVAS (Ireland) Ltd. The record of these finds has now been filed for public viewing at the National Museum of Ireland.

 

The most significant discoveries include the foundations of a timber house at Ryleen. It was built by some of the first Stone Age (Neolithic) farmers who cleared the natural woodlands, 9th planted crops and raised their livestock in this area almost 6000 years ago. Cremation burials found in Berkeley, Camlin and Stokestown reveal aspects of our Bronze Age forebears’ belief 10th systems 3 – 4,000 years ago. At Landscape the remains of a 700-year-old medieval farmstead were uncovered.