THE PROPOSED by-pass of New Ross and second river crossing over the Barrow took a major step forward this week following the announcement that the National Roads Authority is to put the project out to tender.

Not immune to controversy the proposed by-pass has been the subject of much debate over the last five years with alternative routes closer to the town being highlighted as more economically viable by those opposed to the selected Pink Rock and Stokestown route.

Last week the Government gave the thumbs up for the €215m project to be put to tender. It will feature a 16km stretch of dual-carraigeway to be built under public private partnership.

The project was identified as one of four road schemes suitable as a jobs stimulus package by Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin.

The proposed by-pass of Enniscorthy, which will link in with the New Ross project, is one of the other three projects.

Land acquisition for the project in New Ross is already complete, however, the final design, selection of a private partner and the full awarding of the project contract is expected to take around a year to complete.

With that in mind, as revealed in The Echo last week, work on the road is not expected to begin until 2015 with the by-pass is expected to be completed in 2017.

The main focus of attention in the project will be on the second bridge over the river Barrow. The structure will be around 900m in length with the two main central spans each expected to be in the region of 230m long.

It will be an ‘extrados’ style bridge which is best described as a cross between a girder construction and a cable-stayed bridge.

The bridge will be similar in design to the famous Millau viaduct in southern France.