Westmeath supporters have been making the trip to Croke Park on a more regular basis in recent years. A trip to GAA headquarters can be a frustrating outing as traffic jams and long delays have been par for the course. However, with the opening of the new N4-N6 Kinnegad-Kilcock motorway, travelling time will be greatly reduced. We speak to Eurolink Construction Manager Jose Tamariz about how the new motorway will affect motorists travelling to and from the capital to the west, while he also reveals how the project was completed an amazing ten months ahead of schedule. On December 12th, 2005 the largest toll road in the country was opened at a cost of Eur328 million. The project was completed as a joint venture between Spanish based company Cintra who head the consortium and Irish firm SIAC. Construction work was carried out by Ferrovial construction subsidiary Ferrovial Agroman and SIAC construction. With a 66% stake, Cintra hold a 30-year lease on the road, which mean that they provide the maintenance and upkeep for that time. The road is part of a corridor linking Dublin with the North west. It connects the N4 and N6 public roads east of Kinnegad with the M4 motorway at Kilcock. The construction project, which commenced in March 2003, involved designing and building 39 km of road. Another 17km of local roads, six junctions and 36 infrastructure items were built, as well as environmental and communications work. "We were awarded the contract in March 2003 after a six-month wait for planning," said Jose. "Then in June of the same year, we started work on the project. The due date for completion was October 2006, but fortunately, the project was completed well ahead of schedule, a full ten months in fact," he added. "Eurolink has a 30-year contract to maintain the motorway for the next 30 years. Eurolink are a subsidiary of Cintra, who specialise in the construction of motorways and have worked all around the world. "In all, the company have completed 16 motorways in the likes of the United States, Canada, Chile, Italy and Portugal and now Ireland, which was our first job here. Cintra are experts in design and are renowned for the work they have completed." As part of the new motorway, there is a central toll plaza at Kilcock and two toll plazas on the west side of the Enfield junction, although Jose revealed that motorists would only have to pay at one plaza. "Motorists will only have to pay once at the toll as they will interchange at Enfield, so that will help ease the cost of drivers. Travelling time will be officially reduced by fifteen minutes, although that could well be up to one hour at peak times." Jose has worked for Eurolink for the past six months and is now based in Ireland, where he will oversee the day to day running of the motorway, while he admitted that there will be plenty of work to do on a regular basis. "It will be up to us to salt the motorway when there is frost. We will also have to keep it clean and do any repairs needed. We have our own people who will carry out all the necessary maintenance," said Jose. Cintra have 35 years experience in their field of expertise and as part of maintaining their 18 toll highways, they have landed a contract as 'strategic partner' for the next 50 years of the Trans-Texas Corridor in the United States. The Spanish-based company are one of the world's leading private developers of transport infrastructure and it has managed to position itself as one of the leading companies due to its ability to properly assess all of a project's possible problems. Cintra have been recently named provisional preferred tender of a second toll road project in Ireland, which will affect supporters of Westmeath in the north of the county. The M3 toll road from Clonee to North Kells, located north-west of Dublin is expected to begin in the next year and will cut down travelling time to and from the capital also. A lot of changes have occurred on and off the field for Westmeath, not only will they be travelling on the comfort of the N6-N4 motorway, but with a new manager and many new faces in the squad, it is the beginning of a new era for the county's footballers. Following the exploits of last year, which saw Westmeath lose their Leinster crown and be relegated to the NFL Division Two, Lake County supporters will be looking for a return to winning ways. Tomas O'Flatharta has taken over from Paidi O'Se as manager and there is a sense of belief that Westmeath can make a major impact this year. Neighbours Offaly will provide the opposition in the first round of the Leinster championship and the Faithful will provide a stern test for the Maroon and Whites. However, with the likes of Dessie Dolan, Alan Mangan, Denis Glennon, PJ Ward and Dermot Healy in their ranks, Westmeath have the players to capable of bringing the Delaney Cup back to the county. The county's supporters have tasted success following 2004's historic Leinster final win and they are crying out for more. Westmeath are one of the best supported counties in the country and with the road to Croke Park of the highest standard, GAA headquarters will be a sea of maroon and white on hopefully many occasions in 2006. Tweet

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