A new stretch of motorway has opened that will help thousands of motorists travelling every day between Dublin and Cork.
The 40km Cullahill to Cashel section of the motorway (known as the M8) started in November 2006 and has been completed seven months ahead of schedule and under budget.
The new section of road cost €435m to build. It contains 46 bridges and runs between Cullahill in Co Laois (south of Durrow) and Cashel in Co Tipperary, and it ties into the Cashel Bypass (opened in 2004) at a new interchange.
The main towns and villages bypassed include Johnstown and Urlingford in Co Kilkenny and Littleton and Horse & Jockey in Co Tipperary.
Around 16,000 motorists use this road each day. The National Roads Authority says motorists will save 10-20 minutes at peak times when travelling on the new stretch of motorway.
Still under construction on the Dublin-Cork route is the 16km M8 Mitchelstown - Fermoy stretch, and the Portlaoise to Cullahill bypass, both due to open in 2010.
