Wicklow Not Yet Earmarked for Toll Roads

The main N11 in Wicklow has not been earmarked as a toll road, the Chief Executive of the National Roads Authority confirmed yesterday.

The roads authority boss, Mr. Michael Tobin, who attended yesterday's County Council meeting was replying to a question asked by Councillor Liam Kavanagh when he said that eleven locations in the country are being investigated at present but the N11 is not among them.

`We have not got our eyes on the N11 at the moment but there will be a shortfall on the amount expected to be raised from tolls. However, we do not have County Wicklow in mind', he added.

The debate on roads in the county became heated at times when Mr. Tobin faced a level of criticism in relation to a number of problems in the county.

Councillor Tommy Cullen accused the authority of ignoring its own circular of 1982 suggesting to the Council that it would not be good planning to have development that exits onto a main road.

`Since that time, a total of fifty houses have been built on the N81 which has caused a crisis situation on that road. If your authority had been doing its job properly, this would not have happened', said the Councillor.

However, Mr. Tobin said that the business of planning permission was a matter for the County Council and had nothing to do with the National Roads Authority. `I am sure that we would receive no thanks from anyone if we interfered with the planning process in the county', he said.