Cullen demands services on roads

PETROL stations and restaurants are expected to be included along all motorways following the direct intervention of Transport Minister Martin Cullen.

The Minister is opposed to the National Roads Authority’s (NRA) policy of making lorries and cars leave the motorway to go into towns for services. Mr Cullen said the point of by-passing towns had been to reduce the levels of traffic but this would be negated by an NRA policy which forced vehicles back into towns for services.

During a meeting between Mr Cullen and the NRA yesterday, it was asked to reconsider this position and report back to him shortly.

“It is expected that the option to build petrol stations and restaurants along motorways will be included in all new motorway proposals - subject to planning permission,” said the minister’s spokesman.

The NRA said there seemed to be some confusion about their motorway policy because it was already co-operating with the private sector to provide service areas.

NRA corporate director Michael Egan said that six such service areas were already proposed for the 70-kilometre M1 motorway and more were proposed for other routes.