Residents opposed to a plan to build a dual carriageway between Clonmel and Cahir put their case to a meeting of South Tipperary County Council yesterday. Opponents of the project claim that it is a waste of taxpayers' money which can be avoided by upgrading the existing road, which forms part of the N24, the main Waterford to Limerick route.
A review currently being carried out by the National Roads Authority could result in the dual carriageway being scrapped in favour of a wide, two-lane highway. Even in that event, however, the council plans to build a new road parallel to the existing route.
About 30 families living close to the proposed 10-kilometre stretch of road have formed the Argus (appropriate roads) group, which delivered 2,000 leaflets in the Cahir and Clonmel areas during the general election to voice its opposition to the project.
The new road would link Cahir with Rathkeevin, a short distance from Clonmel. A preferred route has been selected and published and is currently being finalised by the council.
A delegation from the Argus group told yesterday's council meeting that the traffic flow predictions being used to justify the new road did not stand up to scrutiny.
The group's chairman, Mr Con Traas, told The Irish Times that the project would result in two roads between Cahir and Rathkeevin requiring maintenance. "A lot of people think we are wasting our time," he said, "but a lot of money would be spent on a second road and we can show that it would not be justified."
According to council estimates, a new 10-kilometre dual carriageway would cost about €47 million and a two-lane regular road about €37 million.
Mr Michael Fitzgerald, the council's road projects co-ordinator, said that a traffic flow of 13,800 cars per day was currently the cut-off point at which a dual carriageway was deemed necessary. That figure was likely to be exceeded, but the council would wait for the NRA review to be completed before deciding whether to proceed with a dual carriageway or a wide two-lane road.