Motorway plan could face lengthy delays, warns judge

A MOTORWAY plan linking the country’s two biggest cities could face lengthy delays, a judge has warned.

The National Roads Authority along with South Tipperary County Council have been warned they could face legal problems if they begin work on a section of the N8 route. The NRA is planning to complete the dual carriageway linking Dublin and Cork by 2006.

Groups opposing the plan, like the N8 Action Group (NAG), received a boost following Mr Justice McKechnie’s warning in the High Court. The judge warned the NRA and South Tipperary County Council that if they begin work on a section of the motorway, linking Cashel and Mitchelstown, they will do so at their “peril.” NAG president John Condon brought the legal challenge against the two authorities.

The action group is claiming the NRA failed to prepare a five-year draft plan outlining their full plans for road improvements along the N8 route. The group says this violates section 18 of the 1993 Roads Act.

But the NRA insists it was working from the National Development Plan, which is aiming to have to the route completed in the next four years. The NRA says a dual carriageway is needed to meet the growth in traffic travelling between Dublin and Cork, and building a new road is cheaper and safer than upgrading the existing route.

NAG claims the proposed route will damage one of the country’s most scenic areas, the valley between the Galtee, Knockmealdown and Comeragh mountains.

The group also says it would take daily traffic of 55,000 vehicles to justify the building of the dual carriageway. The NRA’s projected traffic flow in 2019 is expected to be 15,000 vehicles each day. But a traffic flow of just 7,700 vehicles per day is enough to justify the building of a dual carriageway, NRA corporate affairs boss Michael Egan said.

He also said that upgrading the existing N8 road is not feasible.

Mr Justice McKechnie accepted the NRA’s failure to produce a draft plan will have to be examined.

However, he failed to grant a stay against the council despite his warnings.

Proceedings in the High Court were adjourned until October 10 next.