Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications
Road Network: Discussion with National Roads Authority
9:45 am
Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Regarding the motorway network, Mr. Barry touched on the issue of road fatigue and natural deterioration.
Has the NRA factored in timescales and made provision for replacing the pavement in the entire network, and could he give an overall figure for it? Will Mr. Barry outline the responsibilities of the NRA in respect of the non-national road network and how he liaises with the local authorities on those roads?
My next question refers to the A5 and the priority of the Omagh bypass. I listened to Mr. Barry outline the difficulties with funding but is there a case to be made for frontloading some of the works that could take place with very little funding, for example, archaeological work and working with the utilities in arranging ducting and servicing of the route? I note the detailed design planning has been more or less completed and I understand the CPOs are ongoing. It would be appropriate as minor amounts of money spent now could save a great deal of heartache when the funding comes through in 2015.
I believe the Newlands Cross project and the Dunkettle interchange in Cork are significant. I have concerns about the N71, the N28 and N22 in Cork, but these are local issues