10 November 2009

Irish News

Campaigners fear that plans to upgrade a key section of the main road between Dublin and Derry have been shelved.

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A councillor last night said he had been told that proposals to improve a 15-mile stretch in Co Monaghan were "not on the radar". The busy stretch of single carriageway runs from the Castleblayney bypass to the border at Moybridge near Aughnacloy.

In 2007 the Irish government said that EUR34 billion (£30.5bn) was to be invested in infrastructure under the 'Transport 21' programme including the development of dual carriageway from Dublin to Derry and Donegal. Money has been pledged to the Northern Ireland Executive to upgrade the northern section of the route, with construction expected to begin in 2012.

Although no timescales were given about work on remaining single-carriageway stretches south of the border, councillors said there were indications that the route near the border was part of government plans. A section on the Irish government's Transport 21 website states: "Consultants have been appointed for the purpose of determining the viability or otherwise of currently planned routes on this section of the N2 corridor."

However, recent correspondence from the Department of Transport to Monaghan County Council appears to cast doubt on the project. Independent councillor Paudge Connolly said the council was told by the National Roads Authority (NRA) that the scheme "was not in any of their policies". Councillors and business leaders are now seeking talks with the Republic's transport minister, Noel Dempsey."I had a motion before the council to lobby the NRA about what was happening with the road between Clontibret and Moybridge and at least get a start date," Mr Connolly said. "We received correspondence back from the NRA that it was not on their radar. They stated that it was not in any of their policies and that we were knocking on the wrong door. "We were told to go to the minister for transport so on foot of that I again wrote to him but he wrote back referring me back to the NRA. "We're in limbo at the moment - the NRA say they have nothing to do with it and the minister has referred us away. We hope that Minister Dempsey will give us a meeting to tell us where we are."

Wesley Johnston, who runs a website dedicated to road developments in Northern Ireland, said: "It would appear that finances in the south are in dire condition at the moment. "I'm aware that there is a limited pot and needs must - so obviously things will have to be prioritised according to that pot."

The Department of Transport did not respond to queries last night.