
AtkinsRéalis was appointed by M50 D&C Ltd for the tender, detailed design and site supervision of the M50 Upgrade PPP Scheme.
The M50 Upgrade PPP scheme comprised the design, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of the upgrade of approximately 23 km of the M50 motorway between the M1 and N3 junctions and between the Ballymount and Sandyford junctions.
The upgrade works include an additional third lane in both directions plus a fourth auxiliary lane in both directions between the M1 and N3 junctions and between Ballymount and Scholarstown junctions. The scheme includes improvements to seven existing junctions on the motorway, including free-flow interchanges at the M1, N2 and N3.
M50 Concession Limited, a consortium comprising Globalvia and Grupo SyV from Spain and PJ Hegarty from Ireland, signed a 35 year PPP concession agreement with the Irish Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in September 2007. Construction works commenced in February 2008 with completion in October 2010. M50 D&C Ltd, a consortium of the same three companies carried out the works with a construction value of approximately Euro 250M.
AtkinsRéalis provided a comprehensive range of design services to M50 D&C, including roads, bridges, drainage, geotechnics, pavement, lighting, communications, environmental and landscaping.
The project has involved over 150 staff from AtkinsRéalis and sub-consultants. Works designed by AtkinsRéalis include two three span steel composite structures at the M1/M50 Interchange. These complex, curved structures are 129m and 97m in length with spans of up to 50m.
At the M50/N3 Interchange, the original scheme included a link road under the Dublin-Sligo Railway and the Royal Canal (requiring temporary diversion of the canal and a jacked box under the railway).
AtkinsRéalis developed an alternative design utilising a five span viaduct approximately 155m in length over the railway and canal. We prepared an EIS, gave evidence at oral hearing and secured statutory approval for the alternative design within an eight month timeframe after award of the contract. This alternative provided substantial time and cost savings, reduced risks and environmental benefits.