Increase in trucks highlights urgent need for Europort Access Road
WHILE the sight of trucks queued up at Rosslare Europort waiting to board ferries to the continent was one that was welcomed by all our elected representatives at last week’s county council meeting, calls have been made to ensure that the new Rosslare Europort Access Road is completed post-haste.
With the chosen route for the new road having been selected (route C), Wexford County Council is aiming to proceed with the project as soon as possible to eliminate any possibility of congestion on approach to the port. However, as is often the case with projects of this size, these things take time.
The issue was raised by Labour councillor George Lawlor who said: ‘The sight of trucks backed up Delap’s Hill waiting to board ferries is certainly a welcome one, particularly given we’ve previously bemoaned a lack of action down there. With regards the entrance to the port and the new road, is there any way we can expedite this in a bid to alleviate trucks backing up there. I know the Oylegate to Rosslare scheme will take some time, but for the entrance to the port itself, how quickly can we get this along the chain to ensure the smooth passage of traffic and freight?’
Director of Services Eamonn Hore said that the project was already moving at a rapid pace since the route selection was completed. He said that it’s currently at the ‘statutory phase’ of completing environmental assessments etc.
‘Once this is complete, if the money is available, we can start right away,’ he said. ‘At very best, we’d be looking at an early 2023 start, and I can assure the members that that would be a really fast turnaround.’
County Council Chairman Cllr Ger Carthy said that any anger over a perceived delay to having the correct infrastructure in place at Rosslare Europort should be directed at Iarnród Éireann.
‘Responsibility for holding up the link road in the harbour lies with Iarnród Éireann,’ he said. ‘It’s their lack of foresight right in the mouth of Brexit that’s to blame here, that’s my view anyway. I’d also like to point out that it is the responsibility of Iarnród Éireann, not Wexford County Council, to maintain the road surface on Delap’s Hill. Apart from that, I suppose really the congestion is to be welcomed. I think there are some teething issues with check-in points not opening in time and companies overbooking is causing problems. Maybe its time that all relevant stakeholders sat down and had a discussion on the Europort.’