WEXFORD CO. Council has been informed that the earliest start date for the by-pass projects at Clough to Oylegate and at New Ross will be 2014.

The news was relayed to the members of the local authority by Co. Manager, Eddie Breen, in his monthly report.

Mr. Breen highlighted the fact that on July 17, this year, the Government announced a stimulus package of €2.2bn.

He commented that the funding will come, primarily, from Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and the European Investment Bank. He said the PPP schemes for both of the aforementioned by-pass projects were included in the stimulus package.

“The NRA (National Roads Authority) intends to commence the procurement process this month,” said Mr. Breen.

“The prequalification of the interested consortia, selection of the preferred bidder and final design of the entire scheme will take 12 to 15 months,” he added.

He then pointed out that the earliest that either scheme could start will be 2014.

It’s expected the construction phase of the projects will take four years.

Land acquisition for the projects is continuing and to-date 108 cases have been settled with regard to the M11 at Enniscorthy with €27,684,822 being paid to landowners.

In the case of the New Ross bypass €13,618,435 has been paid to date.

Cllr. Michael Sheehan then asked if the New Ross project was going to be a stand-alone scheme or would both projects progress simultaneously.

In response Mr. Breen said the land for both schemes “has been bought” and added: “The amount in the stimulus package is to go ahead as one contract.”

Mr. Breen said it made sense that both projects would run together from a contractor point of view.

“I think the plan will be to go ahead and get them done as one project,” he added.