Opening of Glen of the Downs Dual Carriageway delayed by Council

A National Roads Authority chief has been told not to open the Glen of the Downs duel carriageway until the lethal junction at Kilpedder is made safe.

The demand was made today by members of Wicklow County Council to Mr. Michael Tobin, CEO of the National Roads Authority, who

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addressed the monthly meeting of the council.

When asked what plans are in place to provide an overbridge at Kilpedder Mr. Tobin said that the NRA was not in a position to meet the €5,000,000 cost involved.

However he said that a mechanism is being considered at the moment through which the private sector may provide funding for the overbridge and recoup the cost when the NRA have the funds. Elaborating on this point County Manager Mr. Eddie Sheehy explained that a number of developers have discussed the matter with the council and may be prepared to provide the overbridge and recoup the money through it being offset against levies they may be asked to pay in the future.

However a number of councillors, including Pat Doyle and Deirdre de Burca, said that it would almost be criminal to go ahead with the opening of the dual carriageway without having the overbridge in place.