M50 upgrade making good progress

Traffic congestion in Dublin will be greatly reduced with the completion of the first phase of the M50 upgrade in March 2008. Garrett Doyle of lead contractor SIAC/Ferrovial Joint Venture explains more.

The first phase of the M50 upgrade is on target to be completed by early March which is good news for hauliers and motorists alike who can expect significant time savings as a result of the improvements.
Works commenced on the country’s busiest motorway between the N4 and Ballymount interchanges in May 2006 and has been progressing at a steady pace. The multi-million euro scheme involves adding a third lane in each direction of the M50 over a distance of 31km between the M1 and Sandyford interchanges, and will eventually double the motorway’s capacity.
“We’re on course to have Phase 1 completed by the beginning of March,” explains Garrett Doyle, who is a project manager with lead contractors SIAC/Ferrovial.

“The upgrade will greatly reduce journey times and the route will be a lot safer as well. Over the course of the upgrade, a lot of time and effort has gone into traffic management schemes. In this regard, we have liased with South Dublin County Council, Dublin Corporation, NRA National Toll Roads and the Gardai.”
The upgrade project, which is being undertaken in three phases, involves construction works/widening of the M50 from two to three lanes in each direction (with a fourth auxiliary lane between some junctions) from south of the M50/M1 interchange near Dublin Airport through to the Sandyford interchange with the upgrade of 10 junctions along this length. The total cost of the upgrade is approximately EUR1 billion with Phase 1 being funded by the Irish Exchequer under the National Development Plan (2000-2006), while Phase 2 is being delivered through the PPP (Public Private Partnership) mechanism.

Phase 1 comprises the widening of almost 8km of carriageway between the N4 (Galway Road), N7 (Naas Road/Red Cow Roundabout) and Ballymount interchanges. The N4 interchange will become a full free flowing interchange. The interchange is grade separated with the M50 mainline passing underneath. Four new road bridges and one new pedestrian/cyclist bridge are being constructed. One existing pedestrian bridge will be reconstructed as a pedestrian/cyclist bridge.
The N7 interchange will become a partial free flowing interchange. The interchange is also grade separated with the M50 mainline passing underneath. The two existing bridges from the roundabout will be used and a further three new road bridges and two pedestrian/cyclist bridges are being constructed.

The Ballymount interchange involved the provision of a further signalised interchange with existing roundabouts removed. Free flow slip lanes are being provided for left turning traffic. The existing bridge is being upgraded to three lanes and one additional two-lane road bridge is being constructed to the north of the existing road bridge.

Phase 2, which will commence later this year, comprises the widening of 24km of the M50 from south of the M1/M50 Turnapin interchange to the N3 interchange, and from south of the Ballymount interchange to the Sandyford interchange, including the upgrade of interchanges along these sections.

Phase 3 will comprise the widening of 1.3km length of motorway south of the N3 interchange to north of the M50 West-Link toll plaza. A crucial element of the M50 upgrade will be the introduction of barrier free tolling next autumn. The contract for the construction of barrier-free tolling on the M50 has been awarded to BetEire Flow. The entire project is due to be completed in 2010.
Given their wealth of experience in road construction, the awarding of the design and build contract to SIAC/Ferrovial Joint Venture came as no real surprise. SIAC is a long-established Irish construction firm, while Spanish company Ferrovial Agroman is one of Europe’s leading specialists in the design, construction, financing, maintenance and management of infrastructural projects.
The two companies have struck up an excellent working relationship in recent years and are also currently working on the M3 Clonee to North of Kells project. This project consists of 60km of new motorway together with a further 50km of associated side roads and other roads. A total of 135 new structures will be required with two toll plazas and associated control buildings.

SIAC/Ferrovial were also the lead contractors on the M4 Kilcock-Kinnegad project which was completed 10 months ahead of schedule in 2006, and the A1/N1 cross border Newry-Dundalk link road which was made possible by the Good Friday Agreement.

Founded in 1913, SIAC's business has grown through its reputation for delivering quality projects that always meet and often exceed its clients' expectations. This philosophy continues to drive SIAC’s business and the company is now one of Ireland’s largest contractors, and has also built up a strong reputation in the UK. Through a programme of alliances with major international civil engineering contractors and specialist contractors, SIAC is able to undertake multidisciplinary projects of scale and complexity.

The M50 project poses particular traffic management challenges as the joint contractors are required to construct the works with up to 100,000 vehicles per day traversing the site. As one of the most high-profile road projects to be undertaken in the State, the management of relations with the public and multiple stakeholders will be a key factor in the success of the project.
The site team is led by Mario Mostoles (project manager, Ferrovial) and John Glynn (construction manager, SIAC). Mario has worked in Ireland for the past two years where he was a section manager on the M4 Kilcock-Kinnegad project, while John transferred back to Dublin from the N15 scheme in Donegal.

The project is divided into four principal sections, with one each managed by Garrett Doyle and Declan Battle of SIAC, and Joaquin Losada and David Fanjul of Ferrovial. Over 400 are employed on the project, including direct employees of SIAC and Ferrovial, and sub-contractors.

As already stated, the capacity of the M50 will double when the upgrade is completed. Free flowing interchanges will mean fewer roundabouts and traffic lights so traffic will move faster through junctions. In addition to three lands of traffic in each direction, there will be a fourth lane linking major junctions, i.e. motorists entering the M50 and the N7 and exiting at the N4 will only be able to stay on a dedicated fourth lane between these two interchanges and will not need to move out onto the M50 proper.
During works, motorists can sign up to receive news and alerts by email and text message by visiting M50.ie. There is also an emergency freefone number: 1800 243 454.