Carlow town located in the South-East of Ireland is about half way between the cities of Dublin and Waterford. Prior to May 2008 over 9,000 vehicles passed through Carlow town every day causing major traffic disruption. Local people were also subjected to traffic noise and pollution.
A By-pass for the town was under discussion for many years. It eventually became part of a larger scheme, the M9 Motorway linking the cities of Dublin and Waterford. The Carlow By-pass however was built two years before the M9 was completed.
Prior to building the By-pass archaeological investigations were undertaken at 57 sites. The excavations produced evidence of settlers in Carlow from the Mesolithic era, of houses belonging to people of the Neolithic period and sites relating to the Bronze Age. Material relating to the discoveries were put on display in County Carlow Museum which is located in Carlow town centre.
The By-pass begins at the Carlow North exit in Prumplestown just south of Castledermot in County Kildare, passes to the east and south of Carlow Town as far as the Carlow south exit at Powerstown. It cost €216.5 million and took 22 months to build. The motorway gave rise to some objections from local people. This was particularly true of the Tinryland GAA Club whose members felt their facilities would be compromised by the development.
The Carlow town By-pass was officially opened in the year 2008 On This Day.
Map of Carlow by brookscl on 2015-10-04 10:41:02