1.28bn plan to get traffic into top gear

THE 1.28 billion — over 100 million each month — that will be will be poured into the construction of motorways and dual carriageways next year is desperately needed, the Automobile Association declared last night.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan said that investment in the roads programme was almost four times what was being spent six years ago.

“The money is desperately needed. It is not a favour from Government, it is Government doing what they have to do,” said Conor Faughnan of the AA.

It was still good news, he said. “The commitment to improving infrastructure is to be welcomed.”

Mr Brennan said the high level of spending on infrastructure could not go on and on. He warned that he would be prepared to consider introducing congestion charges in the next few years if all the new roads and public transport improvements failed to keep traffic flowing.

Mr Faughnan said that the question of congestion charges could only come into the picture when the country had an adequate public transport system and people were still reluctant to get out of their cars and use it.

A total of 16 road projects are already underway. The minister said he wanted the development of the Dublin-Cork road to be prioritised next year. Work will also commence on another 11 road building projects in 2004 including three toll roads - the Dundalk Western by-pass, Fermoy by-pass and Waterford City by-pass. Mr Brennan said his department’s total projected spend for 2004 would be just over 2 billion, an increase of 2% above the comparable 2003 estimate. He pointed out that 75% of all spending was capital.

He had also reached an agreement with the Minister for Finance on multi-annual system of funding the roads programme, which would allow his department to commit to developments four to five years ahead, instead of on an annual basis.

“It would mean that over a six-year period I could commit to 6 billion and, after that, look at public-private partnerships,” he said. His department had also allowed CIE to borrow 100 million with the interest and capital provided by his department. The money, that put spending 2% ahead of the comparable 2003 estimate, will be spent on carriages, engines, laying track, signalling and rolling stock.

The minister also pointed out that 40 million was being allocated to the Dublin Transportation Office and 35 million would be spend on doubling the number of bus lanes. Additional bus lanes are also planned for Galway and Cork next year.