A CONTROVERSIAL scheme for a four lane carriageway at Church Road, Killiney, has been modified by the Minister for the Environment to incorporate only two lanes along most of the route - a change urged by local residents.
The residents had protested strongly to the Minister, Mr Howlin, about the original road widening scheme, which called for four lanes.
More than 600 objections were lodged against Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council's plan. Residents favoured reverting to an earlier scheme approved in 1993 for a two lane road with cycle tracks on either side.
In 1994, despite the protests, work started on building stoneclad boundary walls on Church Road.
Yesterday, the Minister announced his approval, with modifications, of the Church Road improvement scheme.
The main stretch of Church Road, running from the junction with Churchview Road to the junction with Killiney Avenue will have two lanes of traffic. Shorter sections at each end of this central stretch will have four lanes.
Another, condition laid down by the Minister is that design and contract documents should provide for strict noise control during the construction period. Also, where feasible, facilities for cyclists should be incorporated where they could be provided consistent with good design and safety considerations.
In approving the scheme, the Minister said that he was satisfied that the road development as approved - would represent a very significant improvement for those who lived along Church Road as well, as those, such as the residents of Churchview Road, who lived in the area.
In his statement, the Minister said that the annual average daily traffic on Church Road was estimated in 1994 at 19,000 vehicles at the "Graduate" roundabout at Rochestown Avenue. The corresponding figure for the stretch of road, from Churchview Road to Killiney Avenue was, 10,500 vehicles, and both sections were expected to experience significantly increased volumes of traffic in the coming years.
It was expected that the road improvement would be completed in 1997 at a total cost of about £4 million, part of which would come from the EU.