Taoiseach travels on the M7 and welcomes 'good progress' on widening project

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar travelled on the M7 yesterday on his to open a new housing project in Newbridge.

On the journey, the Fine Gael leader tweeted: "Good progress being made on the M7 widening project between Naas and Newbridge in Kildare.#ProjectIreland2040."

The Taoiseach said of his visit to Newbridge: "I’ve been visiting a new social housing development in Newbridge this morning.

"It’s a small development in the middle of the town consisting of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and bungalows. Great to meet some of the new residents."

Longer working hours on M7

Last week a local politician has asked Kildare Co Council to consider requesting longer working hours on the M7 widening project to speed it up.

Cllr Suzanne Doyle also requested a 'progress report' on the motorway improvement scheme which is adding an extra lane in both directions between Johnstown and the M9 merge.

A special speed limit of 60km per hour currently applies in the works zone for the health and safety of workers.

Works on the first phase between Junctions 8 (Johnstown) and Junction 10 (Naas South) are on track to finish by Spring 2019.

The councillor asked for details of the current works schedule and the "possibility of increasing operational hours on the project in order to complete it at the earliest time possible."

The M7 carries approximately 70,000 vehicles per day and is also the main network connection to the M9 to Waterford and the M8 to Cork.

The contract for the work, due to be completed in 2020, was awarded to SIAC/Colas JV in September 2017.

It is one of the most significant road schemes contained in the Government’s Building on Recovery Programme.