A Clare Government TD has accused the Transport Minister of ‘overstepping the mark’ by stalling progress on the Northern Distributor Road.
It comes after the National Transport Authority has indicated the works won’t be included in the final Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.
Controversy arose earlier this year when phase 2 of the project was understood to have been halted ‘by ministerial order’ and wasn’t included in the draft LSMATS document.
It’s believed Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and the Green Party as a whole want a greater focus on active travel and public transport within the vicinity, including light rail.
Submissions were then made by both local authorities in Clare and Limerick, as well as the University of Limerick, and elected representatives in the area called for a u-turn.
However, it’s understood the final document, which is to be published in full next month, does not include a provision for the road.
Clarecastle-based Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has blasted the move, accusing Minister Ryan of not understanding the impact of the decision on the Midwest region.
A South East Clare Councillor is casting fresh doubt on the establishment of a Strategic Development Zone on the Clare/Limerick border due to the stalling of the works.
Both the University of Limerick and Clare County Council say designating the land as an economic SDZ would enable the site to generate more than 3,500 jobs.
UL has previously told Clare FM the project doesn’t depend totally on the completion of the road, though the road is understood to form a significant part of the university’s expansion plans.
Sixmilebridge-based Independent Councillor PJ Ryan believes there are now ‘genuine concerns’ about the project.
Minister Ryan is set to face questioning on the matter when he travels to Clare next week to officially turn the sod on the Killaloe bypass project.
