PUBLIC debate on the £114 million south eastern motorway linking Ballinteer and Shankhill in south county Dublin, got underway at a special meeting of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council yesterday amid objections that councillors had not been supplied with a full report on the proposals.
Councillor Denis O'Callaghan (DL) objected to a presentation from consultant engineers on the project at last night's meeting. But the county manager, Mr Kevin O'Sullivan, said that councillors had already had a private briefing on the plan.
The councillors eventually allowed the presentation to go ahead on the assurance of the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Olivia Mitchell, that no immediate decision necessary.
In his presentation, Mr Carry O'Sullivan of M.C. O'Sullivan and Co, consulting engineers, said the motorway was basically divided into two sections.
In the northern section between Carrickmines and Ballinteer, the land was largely urbanised and the choices available were to go through Leopardstown race course, cutting across the six furlong gallop, or through the land site at Ballyogan.
A third option of moving the ESB station at Carrickmines was ruled out on cost. Mr O'Sullivan said that he could not recommend constructing the motorway on landfill.
On the southern section of the motorway, between Carrickmines and Shankhill, the options were to plan the route by viaduct to Loughlinstown or in a southerly direction to an interchange at Shankhill.
As the Loughlinstown option could add seven to 10 minutes journey time for traffic travelling from the M11 motorway to Loughlinstown hospital, it was decided to nominate the Shankhill junction as the preferred route.
Summing up his presentation, Mr O'Sullivan said the road was designed in the light of Dublin's C ring being completed from the forth of the county to Ballinteer and the volume of traffic coming from the C ring, which would otherwise travel along local roads to the M11.
The recommended route, he said, was the best option in terms of traffic relief from existing roads, engineering logistics, environmental issues and finance.
Following the presentation councillors raised a number of questions in relation to access traffic in the Sandyford area, the loss of the six furlong gallop at Leopardstown, the proximity of the road to housing at The Gallops and Ballyogan estates, the noise levels, and the possibility of moving the ESB station at Carrickmines.
While some of these questions were dealt with,
The councillors were told that a full environmental impact study had yet to be received.