€1m for ‘early work’ on the M20 motorway

THERE has been a trickle of white smoke from the government in relation to the M20 motorway, with Transport Minister Shane Ross confirming that he has set aside €1 million for preliminary works on the project.

Minister Ross has given Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) approval to “commence early activities” on the route over the next nine months and that will include preparation of planning tender documents.

However, Minister Ross said he could not guarantee any further progress on the project unless additional funding was made available under next year’s review of the government’s multi-million Euro capital spending plan.

IT would appear that the once mothballed M20 motorway project is back on track after Transport Minister Shane Ross confirmed €1 million had been set aside for preliminary works on the route.

Minister Ross this week confirmed that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) had been given approval to use the funding to “commence early activities” on the road over the coming nine months. . These will include traffic studies, land and property ownership searches and the preparation of tender planning documents.

In a letter to TD’s confirming the move, Minister Ross laid down a five stage plan for the development of the motorway giving a breakdown of the overall cost of the project.

However, the news of initial funding did come with something of a sting in the tail, with Minister Ross indicating in a letter to TD’s that that future progress on the route would depend on the results of a review of the governments much vaunted capital spending programme.

“It is important to note that unless additional money is made available for this project under the review of the capital plan, it will not be possible to allow TII to advance the project beyond the early activity stage, as even stage two involves substantial costs,” he wrote.

The letter indicated that stage two, the approval to commence planning, design and statutory orders would cost up to €15 million, with final stage ‘approval to commence construction’ costing between €600 - €650 million.

Confirmation that funding had been granted for stage one of the project has been given a mixed welcome, with Mallow-based Labour TD Sean Sherlock saying that as fare as he was concerned it was “good news.”

“It keeps the Northern Relief Road for Mallow alive and answers the questions about whether TII was going to progress a motorway from Cork to Limerick,” said Deputy Sherlock.

“The people of Munster need this road. It is the key to unlicking the south wets for further job creation and regional development,” he added.

Fianna Fail TD Michael McGrath’s response was somewhat more guarded, with the Cork South Central deputy saying the motorway “must be made a priority” in next year’s review of the capital spending plan.

“There has been no movement on the Cork – Limerick motorway project for some time and so I welcome the fact that Minister Ross has least approved early stage, preparatory work,” said Deputy McGrath.

However, he said the project would “go absolutely nowhere” if not given priority in the spending plan.

“If we are serious about achieving balanced regional development, it is essential the two largest cities outside of Dublin are linked with a motorway. I will be pressing the government to make additional funding available to proceed this project through to construction,” said Deputy McGrath.