The M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy PPP Scheme is one of the largest single road scheme projects currently under construction in the Irish state and is the third transport PPP to be signed by the Government since 2012. Initiated under the Infrastructural Stimulus Programme the project is being delivered under the Capital Plan and represents a major investment in the country’s infrastructure and economic development programme.
It involves the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of 27km of the M11 motorway, with sections of dual carriageway and the 4.1km N80 Link Road routes, together with the design, construction and financing of the 8km single carriageway on the N30 route. Included under the scheme are a total of 91 structures (2 river crossings, 1 bridge over the railway, 20 overbridges, 35 underbridges and 39 culverts). The two river crossings are being erected across the River Slaney and the River Urrin.
The M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy Scheme will form a strategic component of the motorway network, providing a high quality safe link within the south east region of Ireland. It will also ease congestion by bypassing Ferns, Camolin and Enniscorthy. The improvement of the N11/M11 route is a specific objective of Ireland’s infrastructure investment programme.
It is predicted that the average journey time savings for motorists between using the existing N11 route and using the new M11 motorway will be approximately 10 minutes, and this saving is likely to be higher at peak travel times and at weekends when there is more traffic congestion.
During the peak design and construction phase it is expected that about 250 to 300 people will be directly employed on the project with further employment generated in material suppliers and to businesses in the area.
Initially, CH2M Barry guided and provided support to its client, Transport Infrastructure Ireland through the tender process. For the current phase CH2M Barry continue to provide technical support to TII together with site based construction and works monitoring services.
On the day works commenced on site, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD said:
"The M11 PPP scheme will bring important economic benefits to the south east both regionally and locally. It will improve connectivity, reduce traffic congestion and increase the attractiveness of bypassed communities as places to shop, to visit, to work and to live."