The final section of the M9 motorway between Carlow and Knocktopher in Kilkenny County, Ireland, has been opened for traffic.

The new section, worth €1.519bn ($1.93bn), is a 40km-long road from Kilcullen, Co Kildare, to Waterford city.

The road is estimated to reduce journey times by about 30 minutes from 120 minutes from the Red Cow interchange in Dublin and the Suir Bridge in Waterford city.

The National Roads Authority has developed the new route in five sections where the Carlow to Knocktopher route is the final section of the motorway, according to Irishtimes.com

The opening of the route will allow motorway access between Dublin and the regional city of Waterford, and also between Dublin and the Meath-Cavan border and the Northern Ireland border.