Fears have been expressed that a planned major road for North Limerick and South East Clare could be put on hold for years.
Transport Minister and Green Party Leader Minister Eamon Ryan has yet to approve the tender for the Northern Distributor Road project, even though it’s substantially ready to go.
He is considering altering the plans to include a rail link in conjunction with the development, but this would mean going back to the drawing board and recommencing the planning process.
It’s feared the Northern Distributor Road project may have to begin its planning process all over again if the Minister for Transport doesn’t sign its tender.
Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan has stalled on approving the contract for the road, as he considers a local rail link in conjunction with the project.
Approximately 19 million euro has already been spent on the project so far, which will link Clare to the University of Limerick if completed.
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey says the project’s planning permission means it’s all or nothing for the road.
But a South East Clare Councillor has warned that if the project is scrapped, other vital infrastructure along the planned route would also go by the wayside.
Cratloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O’Gorman says this would have serious implications for people living in those areas.
A Clonlara Councillor has acknowledged that a rail link into Shannon Airport would be beneficial.
But Independent Councillor Michael Begley says to scrap a project at this stage, in favour of work that may delay the project by several years, would be “ridiculous”.
