The £825 million M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway scheme is one of the largest single road scheme projects to be constructed in the Irish state and elicited celebrations when it opened almost two months early on 4 June 2010.
Halcrow Barry, Halcrow’s joint venture with Dublin-based JB Barry, has played a leading role in the delivery of the project as part of a three-consultant joint venture since 1999.
The scheme includes some 112km of new public roads and a further 37km of access roads. Bypassing Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells, it has the potential to cut an hour or more off peak-time journeys between County Cavan and Dublin.
The construction of the M3 scheme was carried out under a public-private partnership (PPP) contract with Halcrow Barry guiding its client, the National Roads Authority, through the tender process, followed by the construction and works monitoring phase. Earlier in the project lifecycle, Halcrow Barry had brought a section of the scheme from conception through to the planning approval stage.
Halcrow Barry project director Tom McCracken commented: “Having been involved for over a decade we are pleased to have played a significant role in delivering this important road scheme, bringing benefits to both road users and residents of the bypassed towns. To have reached this stage and delivered such a high-quality section of motorway is testament to the highly professional and conscientious approach of the many Halcrow Barry employees who have contributed during its lifetime.”