A group of local people opposed to the NRA's plans for a dual carriage-way between
Rathkeevin and Cahir say that the development is a waste of taxpayers' money and should be made into a
General Election issue.
The NRA plans to begin the €40m dual carriage-way in 2004 and it should be completed within two years. The proposed route would not interfere with any dwelling houses, but there would be at least 12 houses within
100m of the new dual carriageway.
The design consultants for the project, Halcrow Barry Consulting Engineers gave a presentation on the preferred route to members of South Tipperary County Council last month. The new 9.5km carriageway would improve road
safety and reduce travel time, they said.
This route was considered the best option in terms of environmental impact, road safety, engineering considerations and economic factors. This section of road is part of the western corridor which would link Sligo to
Limerick and to Rosslare. Con Traas of the Apple Farm in Moorstown believes that a wide two- lane roadway, similar to a section of the
Cahir-Mitchelstown road would be sufficient for the volume of traffic using the road. A wide two-lane roadwav would have a capacity for up to 14,000 vehicles a day at high average speeds with ample overtaking
opportunities.
Mr Traas said that up to 40 families will be affected by the proposed road improvement scheme. According to the NRA, an average of 7,800 vehicles used the Rathkeevin-Cahir road each day in 2001. It forecast that 13,000 vehicles per day would use the road in 2019 and 14,000 in 2039.
|
Mr Traas said: "The NRA want to build a dual carriageway parallel to the existing roadway. The combined capacity of the dual carriageway and the existing roadway between Rathkeevin and Cahir will be 50,000 vehicles per day. Given the current traffic volumes of less than 8,000 vehicles per day and the expected level of only 14,000 vehicles per day in 2039, it should be obvious that this is
pointless". Beginning on the N24 at Barne, the proposed dual carriageway would run north of Woodroof and south of Moorstown, where the Apple
Farm, is located It then passes north of the Knockfee Cross Roads and runs through Suttonrath before linking with the
N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown preferred route south of Clogbabreedy.
Mr Traas said that members of the new action group opposed to the dual carriageway are determined to make the development into a major issue in the
forthcoming General Election. "We are not satisfied with this gross waste of our money. Soon the politicians will come knocking on our doors and looking for our votes.
If our money wasn't wasted on egotistical monuments like this dual carriageway, then there would be more funds for worthwhile projects in
health and education," he added.
People concerned about the development of the dual carriageway are asked to attend a public
meeting !in The Galtee Inn in Cahir on Wednesday, March 13th at
8pm.
|
