Road gets green light despite report’s concerns

A SECTION of new dual carriageway linking Waterford and Dublin has been given the green light, despite a report which clearly says permission for the route should be refused.

The An Bord Pleanála inspectors’ report questions whether traffic volumes on sections of the proposed €630 million route are sufficient to merit dual carriageway status.

The hard-hitting report also suggests the route would increase traffic through some areas, add to congestion in and around Kilkenny city and could push more cars onto regional roads.

But despite the concerns raised by inspector Daniel O’Connor, the board unanimously approved the road plan, albeit with a number of minor modifications.

His report to An Bord Pleanála says the new road would have little impact on reducing traffic flows on existing roads close to Kilkenny city.

The inspector said in his report that a significant section of the new road will have “exceptionally low traffic volumes for a dual carriageway” and would not be acceptable, would not be in accordance with proper planning and would have a significant adverse impact on the environment.

An Bord Pleanála secretary, Diarmuid Collins, said the inspectors’ recommendation is just that. He said the board typically follows the inspector’s decision in about 90% of cases but this was one of the exceptions.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen has shrugged off claims of political favouritism towards Waterford from the opposition.

A spokesperson for his department said: “This project was part of the plan ever before Minister Cullen arrived into office.”

Cllr Pat O’Neill (FG), a member of the Bennettsbridge Road Action Group in Kilkenny, said they have been vindicated by the inspector’s report.

“We are not against the new road but this is a complete waste of money. We will be left with a nine-kilometre stretch of motorway from Dunbell to Danesfort that no one will use,” he said.

Fine Gael TD Phil Hogan says the route bypasses Kilkenny in favour of Waterford.

“The last thing that Co Kilkenny needs is a new motorway that will operate as a bypass of the city and county of Kilkenny between Dublin and Waterford rather than an essential piece of infrastructure that will enhance our economic development into the future,” he said.

At the opening of the ring road in Waterford at the end of September, Mr Cullen promised the road to Dublin would be delivered on time and on budget.

Work also on the Waterford to Dublin motorway will begin next year and it will be complete by 2010, the Minister vowed.

“That is the sort of investment that Ireland needs and particularly the sort of investment that the south east needs,” he said on the day.