M1 DUNDALK PPP TOLL ROAD

The project comprises: i) the design, construction and financing of approximately 12 km of dual two lane motorway ( the Dundalk Western Bypass, close to the border of Northern Ireland); and ii) the operation and maintenance, during a concession period of 30 years, of approximately 54 km of motorway comprising the New Road (the Dundalk Bypass - 12 km) and an Existing Road (from Dundalk to Gormanstown – 42 km).

The motorway will reduce the journey times of traffic travelling between Northern Ireland and Dublin. In particular it will bypass the city of Dundalk, reducing traffic congestion within the town. Expected immediate benefits are: i) improvement of passenger and freight traffic flows, ii) reductions in travel time, and iii) reductions in vehicle operating costs. At the same time, traffic safety is expected to increase.

The winning concessionaire will be responsible for designing, constructing and operating the project in accordance with the environmental impact assessment under the statutory approval process in Ireland. Currently this assessment is awaited from the competent authority, namely An Bord Pleanala.

The project was advertised in the Official Journal of the EU in August 2001 in accordance with Directive 93/37/CEE. NRA received pre-qualification submissions from six consortia, four of which were subsequently invited to submit preliminary proposals by May 2002. A maximum of two of the four consortia will be invited to submit final offers (BAFOs) by September 2002. The NRA expects to choose a preferred bidder in October 2002 and sign the concession agreement in December 2002. The tolling facilities for the Existing Road are expected to be operational at the beginning of 2003.