The
National Roads Needs Study schedule of improvement needs (Annex
4) recommended a wide two-lane roadway for this route at
an estimated cost of € 16.7 (1998 prices).
Furthermore, the NRA proceeded with this option to the point
where land surveys were undertaken and detailed plans were drawn
up.
Why the
plans were suspended and the scheme re-visited has not been
satisfactorily explained. It certainly had nothing to do with a
change in the traffic forecasts. In fact, the original NRA
traffic forecasts are proving highly accurate.
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Perhaps the large exchequer surplus of 2000 meant that there was
extra money available and some luxury schemes could be
considered.
Sadly such surpluses are now a thing of the past, and the country cannot afford the luxury of building roadways with capacities five times greater than the governments own engineers recommend.
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