Pierce
Kavanagh has a lifetime of driving experience, both in Ireland
and in mainland Europe. With cost savings equivalent to half a
dozen Bertie Bowls possible, Joe Rea asked him for his
suggestions to solve Ireland's traffic problems.
Nonsense expenditure is a non-runner. This is critical now with
the smell of budget deficits, more borrowing or increased
taxation in the air.
Motorways surplus to traffic volume requirements are senseless.
Traffic volume figures do not justify motorways in open country.
This fact I have demonstrated in previous Journal articles. For
example: on the road I know best from Cashel to Mitchelstown in
round figures current traffic volume is 10,000 vehicles per day.
The expected required capacity in 2019 is 15,000. Yet the plan
is to provided a motorway with 55,000 capacity. Vanity and
fantasy at its best.
How do such figures match reality? Recently I had a unique
experience when I spoke to a man who in his lifetime had driven
five million miles. Pierce Kavanagh, part of the Kavanagh bus
dynasty at Urlingford in Co. Kilkenny is this five million mile
man.
In almost 50 years of driving he has travelled 5 million miles.
That's the equivalent of going to New York 1600 times or driving
from Cork to Dublin almost 30,000 times. Such a man must know a
thing or two about travel and roads.
Pierce is precise on road needs when he states "a motorway
from Dublin to Portlaoise yes. By passes for major towns. After
that motorways are not required - of course roads require major
improvements - but not on motorway scale. It's a waste of money
for Irish traffic volumes. Our traffic volume is not anything
like the UK, Germany or France which are serviced by
motorways.''
Then I asked, "what's the solution?''
"Upgrade existing major roads. This can be achieved by
having a series of slow lanes at intervals all along the road.
This enables traffic to move along, overtake and pass out
quickly. I had seen it work to great effect internationally. Yes
we need smooth, soft road surfaces as in Western Europe. Such
roads are great to drive on, easy on man and bus. All of this
would only cost a fraction of motorways.''
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Pierce
made reference on many occasions to his international road
experience - what experience had he of such roads? He looked at
me with surprise, his pioneer pin flashed at my lack of
knowledge of his successful business (I only knew he sold the
cheapest diesel between Cahir and Dublin).
Pierce explained, "I have
just returned after driving a 10 day tour of Switzerland. Next
week I will drive a bus to Lourdes. I enjoyed this work all my
life. My passengers get a very special opportunity to see new
countries at close range just sitting in a luxury coach. This
especially applies to those who do not like flying and it's good
value for money.''
Had Pierce driven in many European countries? "Nearly the
whole lot of them over the years. Going from Finland in the
North to Italy in the South. Travelling West to East, France to
Czechoslovakia.
While we are waiting for by-passes and improved roads what
simple suggestions would Pierce propose?
"No parking on the main streets of towns to allow traffic
to flow freely - but with parking space available off the main
thoroughfare. Some simple measures like why not have a Garda
directing traffic in Monasterevin every evening. I have never
seen a Garda at this point, yet there is always traffic
back-up.''
Upgrades and by-passes
Pierce Kavanagh brings a lifetime of driving experience, a value
for money standard to our road requirements. What he says is
very close to the NRA proposals in their "Roads Needs Study
1998.''
The first objective is to complete our by-pass programme.
Priorities for by-pass at Monasterevin, Cashel, Mitchelstown,
Fermoy and other major towns.
Then upgrade existing roads as set out in the "Road Needs
Study.''
This will solve our traffic problems with cost savings
equivalent to half a dozen Bertie Bowls.
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