news archive

June 2006

Halcrow’s first D&B road scheme opens in Ireland

The official opening of the N2 Finglas to Ashbourne Road Scheme on 25th May 2006 marked the first completed Design and Build roads construction project in the Republic of Ireland, finishing four months ahead of schedule and within budget price. (Estimated construction cost €95m/£65m).

The new N2 comprises 17km of dual 2 and 3 lane carriageways, two major grade separated interchanges and 16 major road and river structures. It forms a key part of Ireland’s strategic roads network linking the east side of County Meath to the M50 ring road around Dublin giving improved access to Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and major national primary routes.

The road was opened by the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, accompanied by his Minister for Transport Martin Cullen. In his address at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Ahern recognised the significance of the route as a key part of the national development plan, Transport 21, in providing an integrated transport system for Ireland.

Halcrow, in association with JB Barry and Partners, provided the design team for a construction joint venture between two Irish contractors – John Sisk & Son Ltd and Jons Civil Engineering. After a four month tender period in the latter part of 2003 and with a projected construction start in March 2004, the design teams were fully committed from early January 2004 achieving substantial completion of the detailed design in December 2004.

Halcrow’s project manager for the scheme, Alan Guthrie, said: "our JV client was impressed by the design team’s record in delivering the multi-disciplinary design whilst accommodating value engineering opportunities during the detailed design process and by the enthusiasm and commitment of the team. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the design and check teams in Glasgow, Handforth, Chichester and elsewhere whose hard work helped make this project a success."

The Halcrow-led team included geotechnical consultants AGL Consulting (Category 3 Checker), Kevin Cleary Associates (street lighting design), Murray Associates (landscape architects) and Colin Buchanan and Partners (road safety auditors.

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