The location of new roads seems a constant concern for regional newspapers. The latest issue of the Midland Tribune has a front-page headline which says: "Locals pledge not to co-operate with NRA".
The report says: "Residents of the Dunkerrin, Moneygall and Toomevara areas have pledged they will not co-operate in any way with the National Roads Authority until they are fully informed as to why a new major roadway dissecting the area is required."
The report by Anne Keegan reads: "This was the message from a packed and very vocal meeting at the Dunkerrin Community Centre" which resulted in the setting up of a committee "which will work in tandem with 24 other committees from areas affected by the proposed construction of the N7 and N8 toll motorways".
The Kilkenny People carries a front-page report by Sean Keane which tells us: "Over 1,000 people voted on the Kilkenny People phone line last week and over 85 per cent were opposed to the National Roads programme proposed for Kilkenny."
The Munster Express front-page headline is: "Hysteria in South Kilkenny over road route selection". The paper tells us: "The selection of four possible routes for the Waterford to Dublin super highway has caused `consternation, unrest and hysteria' across South Kilkenny, a meeting of Kilkenny County Council was told."
In the Leinster Express we are told that a "war of words" has erupted between Laois County Council and Deputy Sean Fleming "concerning the proposed amendment of the County Development Plan to facilitate the construction of the national primary road network throughout the country.
"Deputy Fleming has questioned the council's approach to the matter which involves "the development of the M7 Portlaoise to Castletown, M8 Portlaoise to Cul lohill and the M9 Dublin to Waterford road schemes".
A headline in the Kildare Nationalist says: "Road may be divisive in more ways than one" over a report by James Fitzgerald which says: "A lack of leadership in Athy has been a major cause of the demise of the town as a commercial industrial centre, according to Frank Taaffe of the Athy Urban Development Group."
He was speaking at a meeting called "to discuss the various routes for the road which will provide a direct link between Dublin and the south-east".
An editorial in the Roscommon Herald says: "The people of Roscommon and Mayo brought the N5 between Tarmonbarry and Swinford to a virtual standstill as the planned Go Slow protest hammered home the message that the people of both counties want immediate action on the dangerous section of the road".
Christina McHugh on the same page writes: "Over 800 lorries, cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles clogged the N5 between Tarmonbarry and Swinford, sending home a clear signal to the Government that it is `now or never' for the N5."
The Roscommon Champion carries a report by Sean Leonard which says: "The campaign to have the N5 through Roscommon upgraded intensified with the possibility of one or more protest general election candidates emerging in the wake of the massive `go slow' rally." The Mayo News reports: "A steward at the protest was heard to remark that there was probably £250 million worth of vehicles" in the protest convoy which was staged "to highlight the case for the development of [the N5 between Swinford and Ballaghaderreen] through Roscommon into Mayo".
The Northern Standard has a headline which says: "Legal issues could hold up Carrick and Blayney by-passes".
The report says: "Hopes are high in south and mid-Monaghan that the plans for two major town by-passes, which will cut travel time on the main Dublin-Derry route and eliminate traffic congestion in Carrickmacross and Castleblayney, won't be unduly delayed by protracted litigation."
In the Leinster Leader a headline tells us: "Construction of £88m third lane to cause traffic chaos". The report says: "Construction on a third lane of the Naas dual carriageway is due to begin next year at a cost of £88 million.
"Cllr Mary Glennon told Naas Urban District Council: `I know it's going to be chaos with knobs on. It already takes an hour and a half to get into Dublin. What is it going to be like when this starts?' " On a more positive note, the Fermanagh Herald headlines the possibility of a "New hospital for Enniskillen".
The report on the front page says: "The Acute Hospitals Review Group, in a report on the future of health and social services across Northern Ireland, is believed to recommend a new hospital for the south-west located either on the existing Erne Hospital site or an alternative site to the north of the county town."
Other good news is reported in the Western People which says in a front-page report: "A major £7.5m breakthrough in National University Ireland Galway support for local communities in the west of Ireland has been announced, with Kiltimagh IRD playing a central role. The building of the Outreach Campus is part of a plan in the pioneering east Mayo town."