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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 4

Traffic Management.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for enabling me to raise the issue of the traffic nightmare at the busiest interchange in Ireland at the Red Cow roundabout. If the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, was present – I had hoped he would, with no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher – he would understand the provision of a bridge over the Naas Road from Monastery Road to the new Luas park and ride facility at the Red Cow roundabout was part of the solution to the bigger traffic crisis at the roundabout which requires proper grade separation.

It is all the more puzzling that the Minister effectively announced the cancellation of the bridge during the summer period. Even more puzzling was his announcement that Luas at that point was "a mess" and had to be put on stilts. I believe he has since been persuaded of his error and hope he now accepts that the problem at the Red Cow roundabout is a traffic, not a Luas one, and that when it is operational, it is likely to aggravate the congestion but to what extent, nobody knows for certain. The point is that no further aggravation for long suffering motorists is tolerable, given the disruption they have endured for years, only to have those in authority recognise now, at the 11th hour, that building works must start all over again to tackle the deficiencies at this interchange which have been evident for years.

I want to use my time constructively to persuade the Minister that a further major contract at the Red Cow roundabout is unthinkable without the over-bridge from Monastery Road first being in place. I further argue that this over-bridge is an integral part of the wider Luas project and in planning terms should be seen in that context. According to my advice, it could be functional in nine months. I repeat that it is unthinkable that Luas should commence operations if, in order to access the train, drivers will be forced around the roundabout to get to the park and ride facility and somehow expected to cross three lanes of traffic to egress from the facility to Clondalkin at the end of their day's work.

I do not wish to labour the point about the mistakes made at what is the busiest interchange in Ireland. However, traffic-train interaction is unworkable without remedial action because motorists will be unable to live with the worsening situation. I ask the Minister to authorise construction of the bridge and require tenders – assuming it has to go to tender – without further delay and indicate a ballpark cost. I raise this point because expert advice assures me that estimates given to the Minister which caused him to cancel the project last summer were entirely and grossly inflated. I would like to engage the Minister at another time on the wider Red Cow roundabout-M50 crisis but tonight I want to stress that without an over-bridge to take the huge and rising traffic volumes from Clondalkin the busiest interchange in Ireland will become unmanageable when Luas is commissioned.

The Minister is exceptionally busy on the public relations front today and every day but is finding it exceptionally difficult to implement sensible decisions. The crisis of traffic volumes combined with defective planning and design on the M50 seems too big for him. This is one small decision – I am advised the cost would be somewhere between €10 million and €13 million – which, if implemented, would help to tackle the crisis. Without it, the system will grind to a halt. The Minister must not compound the errors of his predecessors. There is no avoiding the making of major decisions on the defective interchanges on the M50, the worst being at the Red Cow roundabout after which the issue of the M50 will need to be revisited.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gallagher): I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State, both of whom have another appointment. No disrespect is intended to Deputy Rabbitte, in particular, and the House that neither of them is present.

The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority in co-operation with the relevant local authority. I understand from the National Roads Authority that, with the assistance of its consultants, it is developing proposals to achieve major improvements in the key traffic movements on the M50, including at the N7 Red Cow interchange. The key concern is to ensure the problems at the Red Cow roundabout are resolved to the satisfaction of road users and Luas customers.

I understand it is envisaged that these proposals will cater for free flow traffic movements, including south bound traffic on the M50 wishing to travel towards Naas, and will seek to significantly reduce conflicting traffic movements which are a major constraint at the Red Cow interchange. I also understand the NRA and the Railway Procurement Agency are examining how best to cater for traffic entering and exiting from the Luas park and ride facility close to the Red Cow roundabout. This may involve the provision of a grade separated junction arrangement.

The very significant Exchequer allocation to the Department for 2003 in respect of the development of transport infrastructure and services clearly demonstrates the Government's strong ongoing commitment to the upgrading of our transport system and infrastructure generally. Good progress has been made in the implementation of the national roads upgrade programme provided for in the national development plan. Over the period 2000-03 Exchequer investment will total approximately €3.8 billion. A total of 37 projects totalling 269 kilometres, including 76 kilometres of motorway and 50 kilometres of dual carriageway standard, will be completed by next year.

I have taken on board the points made by the Deputy about the serious traffic problem being encountered. He can rest assured that I will relate them directly to the Minister at the first opportunity.

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