Plans for major bypasses put back

It will be at least two years before the Government reconsiders proposals for two major bypasses around Dublin, it was confirmed today.

Planning for the €2bn 80km outer orbital route running from Drogheda through Navan to Kilcullen, Co Kildare was expected to begin next year allowing traffic to avoid the capital.

Road chiefs were also working on plans for a proposed eastern bypass linking Portmarnock and Sandymount to the M50, but Transport Minister Noel Dempsey claimed neither project would be looked at until after 2011.

“I’ve never suggested anyone should hold their breath until post 2011,” Mr Dempsey said.

“It’s not in the current Transport 21, it’s not in the current National Development Plan.”

Mr Dempsey said once the motorway projects linking the country’s main cities were completed the focus would turn to improving secondary roads.

Almost €1.5bn will be spent upgrading the country’s roads in 2009 - €240m less than last year.

The funding will develop 315 projects nationwide, although just one new scheme - the 5.5km Castleisland bypass in Co Kerry – will get under way in the next 12 months.

At the launch Mr Dempsey also handed his Green Party Cabinet colleague John Gormley a potential political hot potato on Dublin congestion charges.

Two days after suggesting the city centre levy was being considered, Mr Dempsey appeared to row back instead offering the challenge to his counterpart in the Department of the Environment.

“I’m actually not considering it,” Mr Dempsey said.

“In the document – the sustainable travel and transport action plan – it is suggested that it has to be considered, and I said it will be considered, but it wouldn’t necessarily fall to me to consider that. It could be the Minister for the Environment.”

The minister conceded the move may prove unpopular but claimed people would welcome being able to get around the capital more freely.

“Some people may find it very unpopular, but the people who might benefit from being able to more freely move around their city might have a different view on that,” Mr Dempsey said.

“There are advantages for residences in it, there are advantages even for motorists in it. But it’s something that will have to be considered, but it’s not exactly on the agenda at this stage.”

A congestion charge was first mooted for the capital last February and a similar levy has been in place in London since 2003.

It was also confirmed €10m will be spent this year improving the country’s road signs.

“It’s not just tourists that complain about the signposting on the non-nationals,” Mr Dempsey said.

Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd claimed there had been a €240m cut in spending.

“With the cost of building new roads at its cheapest for years, Noel Dempsey should be doubling the National Roads Programme for 2009,” he said.

“Yet the minister has confirmed that this year’s roads budget has been slashed by €240m.

“This is utter folly.”