N52 Tullamore Bypass Scheme - BMW Regional Assembly

N52 Tullamore
Bypass Scheme
Officially opened on 23rd October 2009 by
An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, TD
In the presence of
Mr Noel Bourke, Cathaoirleach
Offaly County Council
European Regional
Development Fund
Investing in Your Future
Comhairle Chontae Uíbh Fhailí
Offaly County Council
The N52 Tullamore By-Pass has been co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union Regional Development Fund
under the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme 2007–2013

Message from An Taoiseach
Brian Cowen, TD
This is another important step
in the continuing improvement
of our national road network.
The reduction in traffic volumes,
noise levels and air pollution
will greatly improve the quality of life in
Tullamore. The By-pass will also result in
greater certainty of journey times, as well
as reduced transport costs and greater
efficiency in the transportation of goods. I
have no doubt that it will have a very
positive impact on this entire region.
Message from Pawel Samecki
EU Commissioner
The N52 Tullamore Bypass offers
an immediate benefit for all those
living and working in the greater
Offaly area as well as for the
considerable transit traffic through
this centrally located region. This project,
supported by a contribution from the
European Regional Development Fund
amounting to €21 million highlights the
commitment within the EU towards real
improvements in the daily lives of our
citizens. It can be seen as a key ingredient
in removing transport bottlenecks and
improving prospects for the future economic
growth and development of the Midland
region as a whole.
Message from Noel Bourke
Cathaoirleach
Offaly County Council
The Tullamore Bypass is a
valuable addition to Offaly’s
infrastructure and I welcome
the opening of the scheme on
behalf of the people of Tullamore,
Offaly and all road users passing through our
county. The town of Tullamore has suffered
greatly over the years under ever increasing
volumes of traffic on the two national routes
passing through the town. I look forward to the
interests of business, tourism and especially the
local communities being enhanced as a result
of increased accessibility and reduced journey
times. I congratulate all those involved in the
planning, design and construction of the
project. Finally, I would like to wish all that
use the road a safe journey.
Message from Peter Malone
Chairman National Roads Authority
The opening of the N52 Tullamore
Bypass sees another of the
country’s major bottlenecks
consigned to the history books
allowing for a climate of economic
competitiveness to develop in the Midlands
town. The completion of key national road
schemes serving the Midlands will radically
improve access within the region itself. This
infrastructure is needed to maximise the
Midland Region’s commercial and tourist
potential and is being provided in line with
Government policy to link the Gateway
towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar.
In a national context, the Ballinasloe to Galway
scheme which is the last section on the
strategic Galway to Dublin route is on target
to open early next year. This new bypass will
provide a high quality link from Tullamore to
the new M6 and as a result offer Tullamore
a competitive edge through ease of access
to the greater business community. In addition, it
will open the region for all visitors to experience
life in the centre of Ireland. Again, I would like
to thank all those who worked so diligently
on completing the project ahead of schedule!
Message from Pat Gallagher
County Manager
I welcome the opening of the
N52 Tullamore Bypass scheme
a full 10 months ahead of
schedule. The delivery of this
infrastructure represents an
important milestone in the development of
Tullamore as a gateway town. I thank the
Department of Transport and the National
Roads Authority for their commitment to
this project and I look forward to continued
investment in the National Route Network in
the County in the future. It is now 10 years
since work commenced on the route selection
process and I would like to acknowledge
the efforts of the staff in Offaly County Council
and Westmeath National Roads Design Office
over that time. I would also like to thank the
contractor and in particular the work of their
project management team for delivering the
project ahead of programme. I acknowledge
the efforts of everyone involved in the planning
and execution of the works in a manner that
minimised the impact on everyday life in
Tullamore. I would like to express my sincere
gratitude to local residents, business and
landowners for their cooperation and
understanding throughout the construction
phase which has been fundamental to the
success of the project.
Message from Leo Martin
Graham PT McWilliams Joint
Venture
The completion of the N52 Tullamore Bypass
10 months ahead of programme and on
budget is an achievement that the Graham
PT McWilliams Joint Venture is immensely
proud of. The delivery of this key national
road scheme was only achieved through
the hard work and the application of skills and
experience of our dedicated site team who
have worked tirelessly to get us to where we
are today. I would like to take this opportunity
to thank and congratulate them for their
efforts. The design and construction of this
project posed many challenges. However,
our team adopted innovative solutions to
meet each and every one. At all stages, the
sustainability of the local environment of
Tullamore and surroundings was considered,
and we made every effort to adopt working
practices which limited construction traffic
on local roads whilst maintaining our
excellent Health and Safety record.
Scheme
Description
The N52 Tullamore Bypass comprises
14km of single carriageway road
commencing southwest of Mucklagh
village and extending east and north
of Tullamore before rejoining the
existing N52 north of the town. The
scheme links into the N80, Portlaoise
road, east of the town at Clonminch.
The project involved the construction
of seven roundabout junctions, three
river crossings, a canal crossing and
one railway crossing.
The contract was awarded to Graham
PT McWilliams and work commenced
in March 2008 with a contract
completion date of August 2010. The
scheme is now opening approximately
10 months ahead of schedule.
SCHEME BENEFITS
The opening of the N52 Tullamore
Bypass is a major infrastructural
development for Tullamore, County
Offaly and the Midland Region.
The scheme will deliver the
following benefits:
Removal of through traffic
from Tullamore and the
village of Mucklagh improving
the quality of life for the
local communities
Improved facilities and
reduced journey times for
strategic national through
traffic using the N52 and
N80 routes
Improved economic
opportunities and
competitiveness for Offaly
and the Midland Region
Improved safety levels for
local residents and road
users
Improved environmental
quality through removal
of road traffic noise and
pollution from Tullamore
and Mucklagh

Archaeology
Headland Archaeology Ltd. completed the onsite
archaeological excavations between 2006
and 2007.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES
Ten sites of archaeological significance were found.
Sites dating from the Early Bronze Age to the
Early Iron Age, included two fulachtaí fia at Ardan,
a cremation burial at Mucklagh and small scale
metalworking activity at Ardan, Cloncollog and
Ballynasrah. Medieval sites included two charcoal
production pits at Ballard and Ardan, while later
sites dating to the post-medieval period included
metalworking activity at Mucklagh and a vernacular
dwelling at Cloncollog.
Unique gold bead cover from a cremation burial Mucklagh,
Co. Offaly which is likely to have surrounded a perforated
bead of shale or lignite.
(Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Ireland)

Commemorative
Artistic Feature
In early Christian times, what is now County
Offaly, was at the juncture of the four provinces
of Connaught, Munster, Meath and Leinster.
It held an important strategic position, resulting
in the establishment and patronage of a
significant number of monasteries.
These well endowed monasteries produced
internationally famous artwork, the High
Crosses, graveslabs, Book of Durrow, and
ornate metal work. They show the prestige
and quality of craftsmen working at these sites.
Durrow Monastic Site is close to the northern
end of the Bypass with Lynally Monastic site
at the southern end.
The artist Maurice Harron has set out to
‘make visible the huge cultural contribution
made over the centuries by these foundations.’
His four impressive figures present symbols of
learning and sanctity. Approaching the figures
from the north, the first holds up a chalice, the
second a book, the third a crosier and the fourth
shows the release of a flock of birds / souls.
The features are located on esker ridges. Eskers
are long understood to have been used as
communication routes between ancient sites.
PROJECT TEAM
Pat Gallagher County Manager
Frank Heslin Director of Services
John Ahern & Charles McCarthy Senior Engineers
John Mitchell, Martin Quinn, Willie Ryan,
Pat Pilkington & Deirdre Reilly Project Engineers
Orlaith Egan Project Archaeologist
Sinead O’Reilly Arts Officer
CONTRACTOR
Graham PT McWilliams JV
Jonathan Kerr Project Manager
CLIENT’S ENGINEERS
Jacobs Engineering Ireland
Alex Robertson Project Director
David Feighery Project Manager
Edmore Moses Senior Resident Engineer
CONTRACTORS DESIGNERS
Grontmij
Design and print: Brosna Press 090 6454327