Orbital motorway plan shelved by Government

The controversial Leinster Outer Orbital Route motorway planned to stretch from Drogheda to Kildare, and running through Meath, is among 40 major road projects put on hold by the Government because of shortage of funds. A section of the motorway was planned to go through the outer limits of Duleek but has met with opposition from residents of the village who say it would interfere with the ancient Commons area and a housing estate. They say they welcome the motorway itself because of the opportunities it presents for employment and for giving better access to the region, but have ruled out a National Roads Authority (NRA) proposed route. A 2km wide 'corridor' has been designated for Duleek from which a final route would be selected. This means that land within that zone would be 'frozen' for a number of years and no building could take place within that area. In contrast, Duleek public representatives say that there are four 'corridors' in the Kildare area from which a final route would be chosen. They have been campaigning for the NRA to come to Duleek and hear the concerns of local residents and community leaders, but so far without success. The projects which have been cut by the Government are expected to be confirmed in a mid-term review of the National Development Plan (NDP) which is due within weeks. It is reported that the Government has almost halved funding for infrastructure between now and 2013, from €39.6bn to €22.9bn; the NRA will begin just three projects next year, and all are in partnership with the private sector, with monies to be paid back over 30 years. A series of projects from the NDP also face the axe. Duleek Cllr Jimmy Cudden said that he was disappointed to hear that the motorway project was not going ahead. "It would suit us to go ahead because of the jobs it would provide and because of the greater access to the county it would give. But the people of Duleek are adamant that the present route it has chosen for the 'corridor' is not a suitable route. The project has now been suspended but I believe it gives the NRA the opportunity to come down and talk to the people of Duleek," he said. He said the local community would "never be satisfied" with the route proposed through the village. "That present route is not feasible. It just won't work, not unless you were to drive the road through the Commons, a heritage area, and a residential estate," he said. Duleek Cllr Seamus O'Neill said that it was a pity the project was not going ahead because it would have provided badly-needed employment. He asked whether the NRA was going to leave its present 'corridor' in place while a final route was being selected. "All we have in Duleek is one route option while, in Kildare, there are four. For the life of me, I can't understand why we should be discriminated against. It would also be very unfair if the land within that 2km wide corridor was to be left frozen. There is no justice in that," he added.