I move:
"That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
I thank the Opposition for facilitating the debate on this legislation at this time.
This is a short technical Bill which provides for the continued application of Part IV of the Local Government Act 1946 in relation to certain applications for bridge orders which authorise the construction of bridges. The Bill provides that Part IV continue to apply and be deemed always to have applied to an application for a bridge order made to and being processed by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government prior to the repeal of that Part and to a bridge order made subsequently on foot of such application. Transitional provisions to deal with such cases were not included in the Local Government Act 2001.
On the basis of the advice available, it was considered that an application already made and processed and in respect of which a public inquiry had been held, could be brought to completion and final determination under Part IV. On this basis a bridge order was made earlier this year in respect of the proposed new Waterford city bridge to be constructed upstream from the existing city bridge as part of the N25 city bypass. However, subsequent legal advice, obtained in the course of the preparation of the State's defence in a court action con cerning navigation rights on the river, raised concerns as to the soundness of an order in these circumstances. The aim of the Bill is, therefore, to remedy any deficiency which may apply by providing for the continued application of Part IV in any such transitional case.
The bridge in question will, when constructed, be the fourth bridge to be built over the River Suir at Waterford. The first bridge, known as Old Timber Toes, was built more than 200 years ago in 1793 by Lemuel Cox. This was replaced in 1913 by Redmond Bridge. The third bridge at the same location, known as the Rice Bridge, was opened to traffic in October 1984. The need for a second crossing of the River Suir at Waterford was first mooted in the 1960s. It was first included in the city council's development plan almost 30 years ago, in 1974.
The national primary route, N25, connects Cork to the port of Rosslare, via Waterford City. The existing route through Waterford city passes along the congested city quays and crosses the River Suir over an opening span bridge, the only bridge crossing for motor traffic in the city. The average daily traffic flow across Rice Bridge is 36,500 vehicles, with week day flows in excess of 40,000 vehicles a regular occurrence. The need for a Waterford city bypass and second river crossing has been identified in the development plans of the three relevant local authorities Waterford City Council, Waterford County Council and Kilkenny County Council.
The objective of the N25 Waterford bypass is to provide a bypass of Waterford city for through traffic while catering for the needs of the city. The planned scheme extends from west of Kilmeaden in County Waterford to east of Slieverue in County Kilkenny. The route crosses the River Suir at Granny, close to the location of the existing N24/N9 junction to the north-west of Waterford city, thus providing Waterford with a second major bridge over the Suir and allowing traffic on the N25 Cork-Rosslare route to bypass the city. Overall the scheme comprises approximately 23 km of all-purpose dual carriageway and approximately 4 km of single carriageway construction. There is an additional 11 km of side roads and tie-ins. The Suir bridge element, to which this Bill relates, is approximately 475 metres in length.
The N25 Waterford bypass scheme has been developed by Waterford City Council as lead local authority. The project management of the scheme has been carried out by the Tramore House Regional Design Office which carries out design and project management for national road projects in the counties in the south-east. The N25 scheme is also consistent with the national spatial strategy published in December 2002. Waterford is one of nine gateways identified in the strategy. Provision of a second River Suir crossing will be an important factor in delivering on a number of the key aims of the national spatial strategy for the south-east region.
It should be noted that the N25 Waterford bypass scheme was also the subject of an environ mental impact statement prepared pursuant to the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000. The EIS was approved by An Bord Pleanála subject to modifications last October. The proposed new bridge and the N25 bypass of which it is a crucial part is significant not only to Waterford city and county but also to Kilkenny, the south-east region as a whole and far beyond. It is an essential part of our national infrastructure. The House will appreciate, therefore, the importance which attaches to safeguarding the bridge order by the passage of this Bill. I thank the House for facilitating its passage.