Enniscorthy Guardian

Traffic to and from Dublin ‘never as bad’

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A MOTION by Cllr Malcolm Byrne calling for the expansion of the M11 M50 in North Wicklow and south Dublin to three lanes and for Transport infrastruc­ture Ireland to develop a comprehens­ive plan, involving public and private transport, to improve commuting travel times between the counties of Wexford and Wicklow and Dublin, was supported.

Cllr Byrne aid the motion will also be forwarded to the councils of Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and South Dublin.

‘It has never been as bad as it is now,’ Cllr Byrne said.

‘Snice I tabled this motion the TII said they will be conducting a study about possible upgrades. We have to look at this in light of the rail issue. This is a critical piece of infrastruc­ture for this county. If the problem with the M50 and M11 continues the possibilit­y of attracting business into the county because of 90 minute travel times from Dublin Airport changes.’

He said bottle necks are lengthenin­g travel times, describing the situation as critical.

‘We need to cooperate with our neighbouri­ng local authoritie­s.’

Cllr Robbie Ireton seconded the motion, calling for a new outer ring road to be built around Dublin to alleviate traffic congestion.

‘At this stage by the time everything goes through we certainly would be in line for it. I come out of Dublin most Friday evenings and it’s horrific what is coming out of it. ‘

Cllr Ireton said patients travelling to St Vincent’s Hospital need to leave County Wexford at 5.45 a.m. to be there in time for their appointmen­ts.

Some councillor­s, including Cllr Deirdre Wadding, questioned the need for an outer ring road, adding that it would be tremendous­ly costly.

Cllr Wadding said: ‘ They have already taken a chunk out of the Glen of the Downs. It’s also contradict­ory to be asking people to use public transport while talking about building more roads.’

Cllr Michael Sheehan said: ‘It makes absolutely no sense environmen­tally to have traffic sitting on the motorway.’

The motion was passed.

 ??  ?? Increasing travel times to Dublin and the airport are a disincenti­ve to businesses setting up in the county, says Cllr. Malcolm Byrne.
Increasing travel times to Dublin and the airport are a disincenti­ve to businesses setting up in the county, says Cllr. Malcolm Byrne.

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