Ireland's first official Motorway Service Areas (MSA) was officially opened on the 15th of September, at Lusk on the M1 Motorway in Co.  Dublin. Two more opened at Castlebellingham, Co. Louth, M1, on the 29th September and Enfield, Co. Westmeath, M4, on the 6th October.

These Motorway Service Areas are being run and managed by Applegreen, on behalf of the SuperStop Consortium (made up of Applegreen, Pierse Contracting and TOP), as part of a tender process that saw the 100% Irish consortium win the PPP Contract from the National Roads Authority, to provide these state of the art Motorway Service Areas.

Each sees the opening of two sites, one on either side of the Motorway. The sites will provide facilities on a par with those seen in continental Europe, with specific services for both hauliers and private motorists. These facilities include parking for 246 vehicles including designated spaces for 184 cars, 13 motorbikes, 10 coaches and 39 HGVs.

The MSAs are also more family friendly than anything else seen to date, with everything from bottle heating facilities & changing rooms to indoor and outdoor playgrounds. The overall project represents an investment of more than €70 million.