asked the Minister for the Environment if any cost benefit analysis has been done on the proposal announced by him on 30 September last for the development of seven kilometres of the Malahide Road, Dublin; the total cost of the proposed development; if this route has been identified as a priority by Dublin County Council; if he considers it a priority, particularly as the area is already served by DART; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Malahide (Dublin) Road.
81.
In January 1985 Dublin County Council submitted to my Department an outline scheme for the improvement of the Malahide Road. This proposal was approved in November 1985 without prejudice to any statutory procedures that may arise.
The improvement of this road is an objective in the 1983 Dublin County Development Plan. The scheme is also one of the 54 major roads projects scheduled in the 1985 Road Plan to be commenced-substantially completed in the period 1985 to 1987. The construction costs involved will be determined by competitive tenders.
Dublin County Council have indicated that the existing Malahide Road is substandard in alignment, width and sight distance. Present traffic volumes on the route are in the region of 11,000 vehicles per day of which 8 per cent are heavy goods vehicles.
While a formal cost-benefit analysis was not undertaken in this instance, I am satisfied, having regard to the existing and projected traffic data and the unsatisfactory condition of the road, that the improvement of the road is necessary to provide a roadway which would be adequate from safety and capacity viewpoints.