LOCAL residents in the Border area of Co Louth have formed a group to oppose plans to upgrade the existing Dublin Belfast road which would "destroy" the environmental value of the Ravensdale Valley.
A study on the Newry Dundalk cross Border link, jointly commissioned by the road authorities of Northern Ireland and the Republic, has suggested the Ravensdale route as the most viable scheme.
The study, carried out by Parkman Ltd, said this route - known as the "Blue Route" - would be cheaper and have less impact on the landscape than two other, more westerly alternatives, the "Red Route" and the "Brown Route".
The Red Route follows a line first identified in an earlier joint study, which has been protected since 1984.
It would pass through the Glendooey Gap in south Armagh, in a deep cutting before turning eastwards towards the railway line at Aghadavoyle. It would affect four ecological sites and 64 farms and visually intrude on 207 houses.
According to the Parkman study, 36 houses would be left within 100 metres of the new road, compared to 76 for the Brown Route and 51 for the Blue Route. It would cost £48.3 million to construct - some £3 million more than the others.
The Brown Route would branch off the Dundalk bypass at Kilcurry, but it would follow the railway line, crossing the Border near Moon Castle. It would affect three ecological sites and 55 farms and visually intrude on 219 houses.
Since it would follow the existing road corridor, the Blue Route would have only an "intermediate" landscape impact, affecting one ecological site and 27 farms while visually intruding on 120 houses, according to the study.
However, the Ravensdale Valley group says this route would interfere with a designated area of outstanding beauty and be "viewed as an insensitive act of destruction by generations to come".
The group particularly objects to a proposal to cut through Dromad Wood to create a new northbound carriageway, saying it supports many species of rare plants and animals, including red squirrel.
Members of the group presented their case to Louth County Council last month, arguing that the Blue Route would damage the recreational and amenity value of Ravensdale Valley, which is important to the area's tourism industry.
For many years, the choice of route was bedevilled by the location of the Border; an easterly route would have to be largely funded by the Republic, whereas the North would have to pay more if a westerly route was chosen.
However, assuming that agreement can be reached, the EU will now provide the bulk of the funding because the "missing" Newry Dundalk link, at dual carriageway standard, is an integral part of upgrading the €01 route between Larne and Rosslare.
