Long-awaited city bypass at least three years away

TRAFFIC congestion in and around Waterford city will not be eased for another three years at least as An Bord Pleanála considers various design aspects of the long-awaited bypass.

The local design team is still awaiting an An Bord Pleanála decision on compulsory purchase orders for land for the new route. It is also looking at the environmental impact the new route and bridge will have on the region.

A project spokesperson said yesterday that all going well and pending further delays or objections, it will be late 2005 at the earliest before the city bypass is complete. All depends on the appeal board’s decision and how fast lands can be purchased for the project, he said.

“We have started work on the tender for the public private partnership. We are about half way through that at the moment. If we got a positive decision on the CPO that process might take around three months.

“All going well, we could see people on site by spring of next year. If the CPO decision is not favourable though, it could be a lot longer before we see this road built. We estimate work will take three summers, meaning the route should be open by late 2005.”

The road will be 23 kilometres long and cost approximately €200 million. That includes costings for land purchase, design and construction. The project also includes several links into the bypass and another major crossing, a cable-stay bridge over the Suir.

The design of the bridge would be similar to the one in Boyne.

Business and industry leaders in the city are anxious that work would go ahead as quickly and smoothly as possible. Traffic congestion in the city has worsened, particularly along the busy quays and mostly at rush hours.

Delays are also exacerbated by the need to lift the bridge on occasions to allow vessels move up and down the quay front.