N9/N10 Motorway/dual-carriageway |
55,000 plus capacity for just 720 vehicles per day |
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The Preferred route for the N9/N10 was announced on Monday October
15th 2001. This is one of the five motorways referred to in
the National Development Plan that the Cabinet Committee on
Infrastructural Development and Public Private Partnership decided
to build without backup traffic engineering data and contrary to the
recommendations of their expert institution, the National Roads
Authority.
Already it clear that huge hardship will be caused both during and after construction. As CaST's documentation is assembled for the Oral Hearing - scheduled for Quarter 4 2002 - information will be made public. These roads are being hailed by the government as being for the public good. Yet a need has not been demonstrated for these new roads and adequate compensation is not being paid. The motorways, the government says, are to separate out long distance traffic. Yet the long distance traffic on the Waterford Dublin road is only 720 vehicles per day. But the proposed motorway will accommodate 55,000 plus vehicles per day. It is true that shorter trips increase the traffic volumes but upgrading the existing road by bypassing cities, towns and villages would adequately cater for this. And the government says people are being adequately compensated. If this is so, why is the vast majority of affected landowners unwilling sellers. And what of the rights of the broader community whose houses will be depreciated and whose quality of live will be degraded due to noise, vibration, light pollution and emissions. In Ireland unless they cede land for the road people are entitled to nil compensation. Yet in Britain based on the Land Compensation Act 1973 people whose properties are adversely affected by new roads are eligible to claim compensation.
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Rush hour on a section of the existing Waterford Dublin road.
N9 Paulstown - Carlow
The proposal is to build a parallel motorway/dual-carriageway and retain use of this road.
Campaign for Sensible Transport
15.10.2001