We must plan now for Adare Bypass – Neville

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Dan Neville, has said that we must start planning now for the construction of the Adare Bypass once the funding becomes available. Deputy Neville was speaking after raising the issue of traffic problems in Adare in the Dáil last week.

“The road into Adare has been named by AA Roadwatch as one of the worst in the country in terms of traffic tailbacks and appears on their list of the country’s seven slowest roads. None of this comes as a surprise to the people of Adare or those who use the road to commute because tailbacks have delayed traffic entering and leaving the town for a number of years. Adare town badly needs to be bypassed.

“Commuters travelling west experience great frustration. Many commuters live in the west of the county but work in Limerick city and county roads can become problematic rat runs. Some 133 people signed a petition on the speed limit on such roads, but the council will not consider the matter as the difficulty only arises at certain times of the day. There are serious concerns about the safety of children and at certain times people cannot walk on these roads owing to vehicles taking short cuts. Many of the byroads in question are very narrow and one is especially dangerous. Traffic into Adare increased over the summer for several reasons, including the upturn in economic activity and the general attractiveness of the Kerry region, particularly when the weather is fine.

“While the money is not there at present to build the bypass road, I am told that Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, is considering the inclusion of an amendment to the Roads Bill 2014 relating to the proposed merger of the NRA and the Railway Procurement Agency. Minister Donohoe’s amendment would enable the NRA and road authorities to engage in pre-planning consultations with An Bord Pleanála on proposed road developments. This allows the NRA or the relevant road authority to obtain the preliminary views of An Bord Pleanála on a proposed road development before submitting a formal application to them for approval.

“There will be a long lead-in period for the construction of a bypass for Adare and we must be ready when the opportunity arises or when capital spending is provided for. The planning for the bypass must begin immediately so that we can seek the views of An Bord Pleanála in good time before any planning application needs to be submitted.”