The Government faces mounting opposition to its plans for a dual carriageway linking Dublin and Cork. At least four groups have been formed to fight plans for the new highway in Kilkenny, Tipperary and Laois.
Informal links have been set up and a spokesman for one says it is "only a matter of time" before there is an organised national campaign against the road.
The dual carriageway, which will be of motorway standard, is one of five to be built by 2006 under the National Development Plan, linking Dublin to the Border (M1), Galway (N4/N6), Cork (N8), Limerick (N7) and Waterford (N9).
Many communities have campaign ed to have the dual carriageway routed through their areas, on the basis that investment would follow. Community groups on a stretch of the N8 from south Laois to north Cork, however, say the carriageway is unnecessary and should be scrapped and the existing road improved.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) says a dual carriageway is needed for projected traffic, and building a new one is cheaper, safer and faster than upgrading the existing route.
Campaigners against the road include the Ballacolla Action Group in Co Laois, the North Kilkenny N8 Action Group, the Mid-Tipperary N8 Road Improvement Group and the N8 Action Group (NAG), which is chaired by former IFA president Mr Joe Rea. He describes the concerted opposition as a "peasants' revolt".
NAG, based in south Tipperary, says the road will cause destruction to one of Ireland's most scenic areas, the valley between the Galtee Mountains on one side and the Knockmealdowns and Comeraghs on the other. "This is one of the great valleys of the world," Mr Rea said. "A motorway through it would be as prominent as the Rock of Cashel. It would be a monstrosity in south Tipperary for the next 1,000 years."
The groups claim figures from an NRA "Roads Needs Study" in 1998 show a new highway is unnecessary. The daily traffic flow on the Cashel to Mitchelstown stretch of the N8 is 8,000 to 9,000 vehicles, and this is expected to increase to 15,000 by 2019. The capacity of the existing road is 13,800, so "minimal adjustments" are required to bring it up to standard, Mr Rea said.
"To justify a motorway, a daily traffic flow of 55,000 is required as per NRA figures. This is 40,000 more than the expected flow of 15,000 in 2019. Why a motorway for 40,000 missing vehicles? A gap between reality and fiction of 266 per cent. This is a fantasy project and should be abandoned."
However, Mr Michael Egan, NRA head of corporate affairs, said Mr Rea had misinterpreted the study. The figure of 55,000 represents the maximum capacity of a motorway. In reality, a traffic flow of 7,700 vehicles justified a dual carriageway of the type now planned, and this volume had already been reached.
Upgrading the N8, he said, was not feasible for several reasons. "To have road building all the way from Portlaoise to Cork on the existing route would create an extremely difficult traffic management situation. To try to keep traffic moving in that scenario would pose a danger to road users and road contractors. It would be chaos."
Lengthy delays caused by the recent road-works in Abbeyleix would be replicated all along the route for many years. "It would be a much slower operation and, unlike the new road, it could not be finished by the end of 2006," said Mr Egan. "We believe it would also be a more expensive operation, because of the difficulties involved and the extra workload, than building an entirely new road."
He acknowledges that opposition to the dual carriageway is greater on the Dublin-Cork route than elsewhere. "There are certainly more organised and vocal groups. Opposition would not be on the same scale elsewhere."
The NRA, he adds, is carrying out Government policy, as set down in the National Development Plan, to improve regional access by upgrading the national roads network. A motorway/dual carriageway from Dublin to Cork would reduce journey times between the cities by 58 minutes.
Mr Robert Proutt, public relations officer of the North Kilkenny N8 Action Group, said links between the various campaigns are being set up and it is only a matter of time before there is organised national opposition. The new road would split communities, he said, and those whose quality of life would be affected by having it close to their homes would not be entitled to compensation.
The group handed in more than 2,000 requests to Kilkenny County Council on Friday for the existing road to be upgraded. More than 1,000 signed protests have been collected by NAG to date and these will be delivered to Tipperary South County Council next Tuesday. The route of the south Laois-north Cork stretch of the road has yet to be decided but, at the earliest, it will be late next year before planning reaches the compulsory purchase stage.
