Cross Border Road Project Goes To Inquiry

A controversal cross-border road project is set to go to a Public Inquiry.

The NI Regional Development Minister, Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy has this week announced that a Public Inquiry will be held into the proposed A5 Western Transport Corridor dualling project.

The recent formal consultation period associated with the project, which ran from 15 November 2010 until 21 January, attracted over 2,000 objections.

In announcing his decision, the Minister said: "As expected there has been considerable interest in the proposed A5 dualling project and it is important that Public Inquiries are held to discuss and debate the issues of contention associated with the published Draft Orders and Environmental Statement.

"Projects of this scale will usually result in the holding of a Public Inquiry but, because of the length of the project and the extent of the interest, it has been decided that the A5 Public Inquiry will be held at a number of locations along the route.

"I welcome the interest in the project and hope that many of the matters of concern can be addressed either before or at the Public Inquiry which is likely to commence in May 2011," he said.

The A5 Western Transport Corridor extends from New Buildings on the outskirts of Derry to the border at Aughnacloy and, at a length of 85 km, is the largest road scheme ever undertaken in the north.

He said that further details associated with the Public Inquiry will be published at a later date.

Most revently, the political turmoil in the Irish Republic and the coming election has led to doubts over the Dáil's commitment to funding their part of the west Ireland road corridor.

With a change in power imminent, there may be little scope for the road to be completed as originally anticipated.

Irish Deputy, Joe Costello, who is Labour's Transport Spokesman, met a coalition of anti-motorway and pro-heritage groups from both sides of the Border in Leinster House this week and then pressured the national parliament - the Oireachtas - for the hearings.

The news comes as public consultation was already under way on three sections of the route - the Slane bypass, the Monaghan bypass and the A5 in Northern Ireland - which are being opposed by Save Newgrange, Don't Bypass the Bypass and the Alternative A5 Alliance respectively.

However, despite contractors having already been signed up, later political developments have cast doubt on a promise made by the Dáil Government to give so much money £400m (€500m) to the Stormont Executive to upgrade the A5/M2, Dublin to Londonderry Road as part of an £850m scheme.

See: Public Hearings To Debate N2/A5 Road

See: A5 'Road' Plan Debated

(BMcC/GK)