The final stretch of the M9 motorway linking Waterford with Kilkenny is set to open some three months ahead of schedule next month and the National Roads Authority has recently confirmed that the road is going to be toll-free.
The final 40km stretch of the route is in the final stages of completion according to the consultants at Kilkenny Local Authorities and will open to the public on September 9 next.
The new route includes a dual carriageway between Paulstown and Knocktopher in county Kilkenny which will enable motorists travelling to Dublin or Waterford to bypass Kilkenny city, however, a link road which will be 6km in distance will make the city accessible to those seeking to come to Kilkenny.
It’s expected that the road will open to the public on September 9 at lunchtime, following a ceremony which will be carried out by Minister for transport Noel Dempsey
The project which cost in the region of €500 million is the final piece of the jigsaw that is the M9 which will facilitate motorists to drive from Dublin to Waterford in just 90 minutes. The entire route travels through counties Kildare, Carlow and Kilkenny and was built in four stages and the project was developed as a joint venture between Roadbridge and Sisk.
When the route opens in September, Dublin will be accessible by motorway from three major cities including, Cork and Galway. The M7 from Dublin to Limerick is also expected to open by the end of the year.
