Further wait for road projects

IT could take another three to four years before a number of road projects to alleviate traffic congestion in Killaloe and Ballina are fully completed, a local senior engineer has confirmed.

The long-awaited Shannon River crossing linking Killaloe and Ballina, the Killaloe bypass and the upgrading of the Ballina to Birdhill regional road is awaiting approval from the Department of the Environment to sanction compulsory purchase orders for land acquisition.
Once CPO approval is secured, senior executive engineer, Tom Tiernan predicts the project could be finished within three to four years.
Addressing councillors at a recent joint meeting of the Killaloe and Newport Electoral Areas, Mr Tiernan revealed €500,000 was provided to continue progressing the project this year.
However, only €100,000 was required to complete the multiple criteria analysis and cost benefit analysis, which wasn’t a requirement when the project was initially sanctioned a few years ago.
Mr Tiernan outlined that the route selection process for the overall project is completed and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is substantially finished but that the CPO stage still has not been given the green light by the department.
Acknowledging there is uncertainty in terms of the availability of funding for the CPO stage, he pointed out the project is progressing well to date.
He explained two draft copies of the EIS was sent to the department informally to make sure there are no omissions.
“A few road projects ran into difficulties over issues, which weren’t identified. A project failed in Galway because of an issue that arose with the EIS. We don’t feel there are any weaknesses in the documents the council has submitted. Within a few months, we should be able to submit all of the documents for approval to allow it to go on to the next stage.
“The fact that only €100,000 was spent this year had not delayed progress for the new bridge. €100,000 will do everything that needs to be done this year.
“The council never made an application for this €500,000. I don’t know why €500,000 was allocated for the project this year. It is a matter for the department to decide when the CPO can go ahead. Once that happens, the department will have to commit serious funding. About €1 million has been spent on the project to date.
“Originally, the three projects combined were priced at about €40 million but the final figure could be less than that,” he said.
Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald asked what would happen if the department puts the projects on the long finger and does not approve the compulsory purchase order phase because of a lack of funding.
Mr Tiernan said once the final EIS is approved, the council would put pressure on the department to sanction the CPO stage. He also explained the Killaloe projects are competing with other investments, which are considered of regional strategic importance.
Councillor Michael Begley asked if construction work will follow quickly once the CPO stage is approved.
Mr Tiernan replied he is not aware of any project that experienced significant delays once the CPO was approved.