Wicklow county councillors have voted to proceed with the controversial eastern bypass of Hempstown/Tinode on the N81, just north of Blessington.
The route favoured yesterday is in line with the council officials' own recommendations, as well as the views of the National Roads Authority. But it has been criticised by several councillors, and by residents whose properties will be affected.
At yesterday's meeting of Wicklow County Council, three options were voted upon. A western bypass was rejected by 14 votes to 10 while a proposal to widen the existing stretch of the N81 and install traffic-calming measures was voted down by 20 votes to two, with two abstentions. The eastern route was then carried. The N81 through Hempstown and Tinode has been the scene of eight traffic accidents since last October, according to Cllr Billy Timmins TD (Fine Gael).
