The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, officially opened the new N52 Tullamore Bypass just nineteen months after the sod cutting ceremony. The €45M 14km single carriageway road was completed some 10 months ahead of schedule and within budget.
The work commenced in March 2008 with a contract completion date of August 2010. The project was completed by Co Down based contractor John Graham (Dromore) Limited and Tyrone contractor PT McWilliams working in joint venture. 1,350 men and women were working on the project completing 650,000 man hours without major injury.
The N52 Tullamore Bypass comprises 14km of single carriageway road commencing southwest of Mucklagh village and extending east and north of Tullamore before rejoining the existing N52 north of the town. The scheme links into the N80, Portlaoise road, east of the town at Clonminch.
The project involved the construction of seven roundabout junctions, five river crossings, a crossing over the Grand Canal, one railway crossing, two underpasses and two further bridges. The road was also constructed through a candidate of special area of conservation (cSAC).
The opening of the N52 Tullamore Bypass is a major infrastructure development for Tullamore, Co Offaly and the Midland Region.
An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, TD said:
“This is another important step in the continuing improvement of our national road network. The reduction in traffic volumes, noise levels and air pollution will greatly improve the quality of life in Tullamore. The Bypass will also result in greater certainty of journey times, as well as reduced transport costs and greater efficiency in the transportation of goods. I have no doubt that it will have a very positive impact on this entire region.”
Speaking about the project, Leo Martin, Director of GRAHAM PT McWilliams JV said:
“The completion of the N52 Tullamore Bypass 10 months ahead of programme and on budget is an achievement that the GRAHAM PT McWilliams Joint Venture is immensely proud of. The delivery of this key national road scheme was only achieved through the hard work and the application of skills and experience of our dedicated site team, supplier and subcontractors who have worked tirelessly to get us to where we are today. I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate them for their efforts. The design and construction of this project posed many challenges. However, our team adopted innovative solutions to meet each and every one. At all stages, the sustainability of the local environment of Tullamore and surroundings was considered, and we made every effort to adopt working practices which limited construction traffic on local roads whilst maintaining our excellent Health and Safety record.”
Pictured above: Staff from the GRAHAM PT McWilliams Joint Venture who attended the official opening of the N52 Tullamore Bypass on Friday 23 October 2009.