Dublin City Council last night formally agreed to reinstate the Eastern Bypass motorway as a major transportation policy objective for the city, subject to more detailed studies including an environmental impact statement.
The council also approved a more liberal regime on high buildings in the city - but again subject to further elaboration after the deputy city manager, Mr Sean Carey, conceded the new guidelines were not yet "adequate".
Earlier, on a roll-call vote of 25 to seven, the council overwhelmingly defeated a Green Party motion that would have deleted the Eastern Bypass from the new city plan. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and PD councillors all voted against.
Ms Donna Cooney (Greens) argued that the other parties were merely paying lip-service when they said they were in favour of better public transport, yet there seemed to be "endless money available for new motorways".
It is estimated that completing the Eastern Bypass would cost at least £300 million, particularly because of a requirement by the City Council that it should be carried in a bored tunnel to protect Sandymount Strand.
The motorway would essentially be a continuation of the £180 million Dublin Port Tunnel, which will link the M1 at Santry with the port, to connect with the proposed South Eastern Motorway - final phase of the M50.
The Eastern Bypass has been officially off the transportation agenda in Dublin since 1992, when the then minister for the environment, Mr Michael Smith, surprised everyone by announcing that the Government had decided to drop it.
Now it is back on the agenda as a result of last night's City Council vote. However, it must yet be examined in detail by the Dublin Transportation Office, which is anxious to ensure that it does not become a major commuter route.
The council's amendment of the city plan specifies that the precise alignment and detailed design of the motorway will be subject to an EIS and would also have to respect the EU Habitats Directive and the amenity of Dublin Bay.
The three councillors who sponsored the proposal - the Lord Mayor, Senator Joe Doyle, Mr Eoin Ryan TD (FF) and Mr Dermot Lacey (Labour) - maintain that most of their constituents in Ringsend and Sandymount are now in favour.
Traffic on Strand Road has increased enormously in recent years and many of its residents - including the Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn - would welcome the relief which they believe the Eastern Bypass would bring.
But Ms Claire Wheeler (Greens) argued at last night's meeting that more roads would only mean more car journeys and less money for public transport. She also warned that there would be "war" if Booterstown Marsh was affected.
The council also agreed in principle to create a "promenade" along Sandymount Strand. This was described by the Lord Mayor as a "worthwhile project". On Dublin Corporation's planning policy on high buildings, Mr Ryan said there was "a lot of confusion and enormous concern" among the public about the changes now being made. Local communities would have to be consulted.
However, Mr Eric Byrne (Labour) said "people in Dublin are ready to stand in admiration of fine buildings, be they short, medium or tall". His party colleague, Mr Michael Conaghan, said "we must imagine a city with dramatic shapes".
The council was assured by Mr Carey that there would be further studies on the new policy on high buildings and, if necessary, the city plan would be amended according to the results.
