Minutes of meeting with Argus held April 11th, 2002.
Present:: Argus: Con Traas, Cyril Burke, Jenny
Kiely, John Bradley, Lynn Bradley
Apologies: Tom Shine
South Tipp. Co. Co.: Michael O’ Malley
Halcrow Barry: Bob Diffen
__________________________________
We agreed not to audio-record the meeting as this was against normal council
practice.
1. Michael O’Malley confirmed that the N24 project is covered by the IFA
agreement, and that the extra €5000 per acre goodwill payment etc. etc.
apply.
2. In response to the question of what roadways were considered, it was
explained by Bob Diffen that the initial brief was to identify a route for a
wide 2-lane road. When the traffic figures were examined, these indicated
that a dual carriageway was required. Various route options were considered
as dual carriageway and the green route selected as the preferred route.
3. When we asked whether the Woodroffe traffic counter figures were
accurate, we were informed that they probably were, although there is a
chance that it is under-counting. This would need to be confirmed. We were
also informed of the “new” location of this traffic counter which is now
located near the entrance to the metal re-cycling depot.
4. An undertaking was given to supply our group with the traffic assignment
figures.
5. We will also be able to purchase the constraints study.
6. The route selection report is not available to us yet, as it has not been
formally submitted to the NRA. Some of the information in it will be made
available to us, and Michael O’Malley will get back to us on this matter.
7. The Halcrow Barry figures indicate a dual carriageway, but the figures
are just over the threshold. Bob Diffen expects to be asked to consider
another road type in addition to dual carriageway (probably some sort of
divided roadway with alternating twin lanes)
8. The growth factors as published in the National Roads Needs study are
those currently being used.
9. The design year for which the road is being specified is 2026 (20 years
after expected completion).
10. In Bob Diffen’s opinion, wide 2 -lane roadways can have high accident
rates as traffic flows increase and in his view become
undesireable. To build stretches of more than 2km of this type of roadway now requires the
express permission of the NRA.
|
11. When we asked where in priority terms was the N24 dual carriageway,
Michael O’Malley explained that the priority in South Tipperary is to be the
N8 motorway. He further explained that when the N8 is underway or nearing
completion that the N24 will be tackled. He also outlined that if more
money was made available, that then the N24 might proceed more quickly.
Michael O’Malley estimated that the N8 would start in 2004 and be completed
in 2007, and that the N24 would start then. However, this was only a guess
on his part.
12. With regard to the existing N24, we expressed concern that little would
be done to it between now and 2010 (when the N24 would be finished). Michael
O’Malley outlined that the council were considering widening in certain
parts (without removing any hedges or encroaching on land) to facilitate
traffic to overtake agricultural vehicles etc.
13. Bob Diffen said that the main reason why a re-alignment option will not
work is due to traffic conflicts (too many junctions, house entrances etc.)
14. With regard to the costs of roadway, Bob Diffen said that the current
per km cost of roads is €7.25m for motorway type dual carriageways. The
current cost estimate of the Rathkeevin to Cahir dual carriageway is€47m,
i.e. €4.7m per km (inc. Vat)
15. Bob Diffen agreed that the more expensive the road the greater the fee
paid to Halcrow Barry. However, he outlined that this would not lead to a
conflict of interest as Halcrow Barry must comply with design standards;
decisions are subject to audit; and economic justification is required.
16. We stated that more people are opposed to a dual carriageway on the
green route than were opposed to the pink re-alignment option.
17. We were told that the Cahir Eastern Relief Road is now almost certainly
not to go ahead.
18. We outlined that many householders were unhappy at how they had been
treated at the preferred route exhibition, although Bob Diffen himself had
been helpful to people. Both Michael O’Malley and Bob Diffen stated that
this was contrary to the feedback they had received. Bob Diffen explained
that the term “directly affected” applied only to those who will have land
taken from them, and so people to whom the roadway will pass closely, may
have been told that they were not “directly affected”
While not exhaustive or complete, the above 18 points are an accurate
reflection of much of the discussion at the meeting:
Signed: (For Argus roads group)
Signed: (For South Tipperary County Council)
|
