Keating to establish Working Group to address residents’ concerns over Newlands Cross works

Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy, Derek Keating, has said every effort will be made to minimise the impact on local residents as a result of the Newlands Cross by-pass, the work on which is set to commence this summer.

Deputy Keating was speaking following a local meeting last night that was organised by him and attended by the National Roads Authority, as well as by an independent engineer from Leixlip, Mr. John Colgan, who was on hand to answer any technical questions.

“After 30 years of discussion, 10 years of planning and 5 years of seeking funding, South Dublin County Council, in conjunction with the National Roads Authority, is now about to sign a €70 million contract to have work commence on the Newlands Cross by-pass in the first week of July. This will follow on from the contract being signed on 7th March.

“Work on this project, for the development of the N7, will take about 21 months to reach. It will be one of the major construction projects undertaken in Dublin Mid West for some time. Currently more than 100,000 vehicles pass through the junction every day and Newlands Cross has been flagged for construction, which will see it being by-passed by 60% of traffic coming onto that junction, for some time now.

“Obviously, local residents have concerns, in terms of what the construction phase will mean for them in terms of their day to day living. I have received a commitment from South Dublin County Council that all three lanes on each side of the road will remain open during the construction phase and that the contractor will be available to discuss the hours of construction, the impact of machinery in the area, noise, light and other environmental factors.

“I will also be setting up a Working Group to represent the residents of the immediate area to keep those who are anxious about this construction informed. It is vital that a direct communication pathway is established with South Dublin County Council, the Gardaí and the contractor to ensure that, when the work commences, a limited environmental impact will result.
 

“This project is long overdue so I am delighted that it is now being progressed, as it will have a significant impact on local residents’ lives once completed. As soon as the contract is signed next month, I will host a number of information meetings to ensure that the construction phase will take the impact on local residents into consideration and that their concerns and fears can be allayed.”
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