Madam, - I respectfully suggest that the Minister for Transport take a little time carefully to consider his plan to put the Luas on stilts at the Red Cow Roundabout. The problem with that notorious intersection is not Luas but the 80,000 vehicles per day that use it.
Imagine for a moment the difference it would make if vehicles travelling between Newlands Cross and Inchicore did not have to negotiate a roundabout but instead traversed the junction on a flyover without traffic lights. Better still, imagine if there was also a proper cloverleaf junction between the M50 and the N7.
A check of the National Roads Authority website shows it has no immediate plans for this bottleneck. Given the daily social and economic cost arising from traffic delays this is indeed surprising.
The Red Cow Roundabout was a problem long before Luas construction began. If the Luas is put on a flyover (having already had a special bridge built for it), the prospects of solving the real problem will be about zero. Bearing in mind that Luas will attract additional traffic to the park-and-ride facility at its Red Cross depot the imperative is to deal with the vehicles, and not the trams.
About €30 million was wasted in unnecessarily removing the Connolly Station ramp. Please let's not repeat the mistake. - Yours, etc.,
DONAL DUFFY, Brennanstown Road, Cabinteely, Dublin 18.