Department of Transport: 2004

Traffic congestion in various towns and villages

7 December 2004

To ask the Minister for Transport if he has made contact with the various local authorities with a view to the elimination of unnecessary traffic congestion in various towns and villages throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter

- Bernard J. Durkan.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 7th December, 2004.
Ref No: 32540/04

Answered by Minister for Transport (Martin Cullen)

Traffic management measures in towns and villages to deal with traffic congestion is a matter for local authorities.

However, the major investment being undertaken in the upgrade of the national road network is having a major beneficial impact on traffic flow throughout the country. A key objective of the upgrade programme is the elimination of bottlenecks through the provision of new routes by-passing towns and villages. Major projects completed in recent years and which have contributed significantly to better traffic flow include the upgrade of the M1, Kildare, Monasterevin, Cashel, Watergrasshill, and Limerick Southern Ring Road By-Passes on the N7/N8, Youghal By-Pass on the N25, Ballincollig By-Pass on the N22 and so on. Attached is a list of 98 major improvement works completed on the national road network since 1994. A large number are by-passes of towns and villages.