Sir, – I read with interest Cian Nihill’s report (Home News, July 20th) that the National Roads Authority is paying almost €500,000 a month to the private operators of the M3 motorway and the N18 Limerick Tunnel because traffic has fallen short of anticipated levels.
On a current proposed road development – the N22 from Coolcour (Macroom) to Toonlane (Baile Bháirne) in Co Cork – An Bord Pleanála approved the route, despite the inspector rejecting it on traffic grounds.
The inspector considered that “it has not been demonstrated that the proposed road scheme, designed to dual-carriageway standard, is justified for the western part of the route”.
May I put it to the authority that proceeding to build a road that is not justified on traffic grounds, with money that we do not have, and which will cost us dearly to borrow, is nothing but folly? Are we also to see this road tolled in the future to pay for that folly? – Yours, etc,