Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has said that Minister for Transport Shane Ross will visit the N81 on Monday next. This has been organised as part of the local campaign to reverse the decision to suspend the planned upgrade work of the N81.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Teachta Brady said:
“I welcome the planned visit of Minister Ross to West Wicklow on Monday next to see himself the dangers of the N81. His visit is in follow up to a meeting I held with him, along with local campaigners, representatives from the Blessington and Hollywood Forums and a number of other elected representatives. This was back in June.
“The aim of our campaign is clear we want the funding for the planned N81 upgrade scheme reinstated. Earlier this year I was informed that the N81 from Tallaght to Hollywood Cross road improvement scheme was to be suspended. The project is not included in the Government’s Capital Investment Plan which provides the financial and strategic framework for Transport Infrastructure Irelands activities until 2021. Therefore the N81 is now not included in the national roads programme.
West Wicklow Sinn Féin public representative Aidan Kinsella said “The plans which have been worked on now for 10 years would have seen an upgrade of 31km of the N81, with a focus on improving the road safety and journey times for motorists using the road. Sinn Féin have been lobbying Minister Shane Ross on the urgent need for works to take place on the N81. Locals and those familiar with the N81 will know it is one of the deadliest roads in the County. According to a briefing report which was released by the Kildare National Roads Office, the current N81 between Tallaght and Hollywood Cross has up to seven times the national average of head-on collisions, and two times the national average of single-vehicle crashes.
Teachta Brady concluded “It is welcome that the Minister will visit West Wicklow on Monday next, however we don’t want this to be simply a PR stunt for him. What we need are solid commitments that the scheme will proceed as planned. I encourage members of the public to meet Minister Ross when he arrives at 'The Lamb' @ 2pm on Monday 13th. It’s important that the Minister hears from as many people as possible how important the upgrade of the N81 is.” Ends
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