Following a competitive tendering process, the Technical Consultancy Services contract for the N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme has been awarded to Atkins, it has been announced.
The proposed scheme entails the improvement of the N24 national primary route between the Ink Bottle junction and the Tower Road junction.
Junction will be left-in/left-out only
It is proposed to close the Ink Bottle junction and to provide a new compact grade-separated junction and associated overbridge at the Tower Road junction. The existing Tower Road junction will be left-in/left out only.
A new link road and roundabout are proposed to the north of the N24 in order to facilitate the closure of the Ink Bottle junction. It is proposed to provide two lanes in both directions on the N24 through the Tower Road junction.
[caption id="attachment_40887" align="alignright" width="300"]
Back L-R: Glen Jones, Tramore RDO; Seamus Kavanagh, senior engineer; Tim Butler, director of services; Frank Stafford, senior exec. Engineer; Cllr Pat Dunphy; Cllr Tomás Breathnach; front L–R: John Ryan, WS Atkins; Richard Neuling, WS Atkins; Colette Byrne, chief executive; Cllr Fidelis Doherty; Cllr Melissa O’Neill, (absent) ;Cllr Ger Frisby; and Cllr Eamon Aylward[/caption]
This scheme has been an objective of Kilkenny County Council for many years and with the support of TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland), this objective, subject to the necessary statutory and funding approvals, will be realised over the next number of years.
Richard Neuling, technical director at Atkins, said: "Atkins are delighted to be appointed by Kilkenny County Council to deliver the technical consultancy services for the N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme. This scheme is a very important road improvement for Kilkenny and will significantly improve road safety on the N24 route."
Tender process for construction contract will be undertaken in Q1/Q2 2019
The programme for this year will be focused on planning, design, preparation of contract documents along with the acquisition of the lands required to deliver the scheme. Thereafter, again subject to approvals, the tender process for the construction contract will be undertaken in Q1/Q2 2019.
On completion of this process, it is anticipated that construction works will commence on site in Q3 2019 with a construction period of 15 months to complete the scheme.
John Ryan, project manager at Atkins, said: "Atkins is looking forward to delivering this project for Kilkenny County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. This project is of great significance for the local community and Atkins is well placed to ensure it is delivered successfully given the experience and expertise of our local team."
Frank Stafford, senior executive engineer, Kilkenny County Council, said: "The delivery of this project will have significant benefits for not just the local community in this part of south Kilkenny, but the wider travelling public, noting that in excess of 10,000 vehicles travel along this section of road each day."