KENNY WELCOMES MAY START DATE FOR BUILDING OF LUAS LINE LINK UP

Posted on November 27, 2012 5:17 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin Bay North Labour Party T.D. and Oireachtas Transport Committee member, Seán Kenny, has welcomed the announcement that work will start on the new Luas BXD line in May of next year.

"The Cabinet discussed the project's updated business plan today and have authorised the building work on the new Luas line to begin in May of next year. I understand
that Minister Varadkar will now ask the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) to prepare for work to start in May 2013.

"This is a very important step for the Luas BXD project, which will link up the existing Luas lines and give Dublin an integrated commuter rail network for the first time. Funding for the project has been included in the Government's capital allocations under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016 plan, which gave priority to Luas BXD. The two Luas lines should have been joined up years ago. I warmly welcome the fact that this Government is now going to finish the job that should have been done a decade ago.

"Luas Broombridge will be a key element in an integrated transport system for Dublin. It will create a Luas network by joining the two existing Red and Green lines, extending the network through the city centre to Broombridge. The new line will also integrate with rail services on the Maynooth and Dunboyne lines as well as QBC cross city/city centre bus services. A new bridge over the River Liffey, which is currently under construction, will carry the southbound Luas track from Marlborough Street to Hawkins Street. When this landmark project is completed Dublin will finally have a truly integrated public transport system.

"The project will cost €370 million and is likely to generate up to 800 jobs during the construction phase. Other sectors of the regional economy are likely to benefit such as those in the construction material supply industry, plant hire and those providing technical support services (architects, engineers, and quantity surveyors). Around 60 new
permanent jobs will be created to support the ongoing operation and maintenance of the extended Luas network.

"The first stage of construction - the pre-construction enabling works - is due to start in May 2013 with the main construction works starting in 2015. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2017. Every effort will be made to minimise the impact of construction works on the business community, road users, pedestrians, and residents in the city centre area."