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AA criticises Varadkar for lack of action on accident blackspots
on 03/02/2013 14:13:57
While work has begun on another 28 hazardous corners, a huge question mark now hangs over the remaining 29 projects.
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar announced in January last year that he was handing more than €100m to overhaul half of the 60 identified blackspots.
However, he admitted at the time that the other half would only get the go-ahead if the funds were available.
It is understood that the National Roads Authority (NRA), which has responsibility for carrying out the upgrades, has been told there is no money in the budget this year for more works.
Another €100m is needed to carry out the next phase of the safety overhaul.
Plans to fix some of the country's most dangerous road bends - in counties Cavan, Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wicklow - have now been effectively shelved.
Sean O'Neill, spokesman for the NRA, said: "As of right now, no additional funding for the remaining schemes is in place."
It is understood the need to buy land from local landowners would have delayed construction on some of the earmarked upgrades.
Conor Faughnan, of the AA, said there were obvious financial difficulties facing the Transport Minister, but he insisted motorists hit by extra taxes in the last Budget were promised they would see road improvements in return.
"Let's have that €100m," he said. "Make no mistake about it, motorists did actually supply that extra money.
"We had a tax increase on fuel lumped upon us at the start of 2012 and we paid that all year long, so there is more than enough taken off us there to supply the €100m."
He added: "I'm given to understand that these locations have been identified as dangerous. So surely that must give them sort of priority."
Mr Faughnan also said the completion of just three projects since last year was a "pretty disappointing outcome".
"Unless they make significant progress in the new year, it doesn't seem as if a tremendous amount has been done," he said.
However, Mr O'Neill said it was a 12-year programme and good progress was being made.
"It isn't instant coffee - you don't just add water and stir," he said.
"This involves land purchases, engineering, design and works to straighten out roads. We will be halfway complete by the end of 2013 - that's good progress."
Works at the 28 blackspots where construction began during 2012 are expected to be completed this year, according to the NRA.
The authority said the projects will cost exactly the €100m set aside for the first half of the upgrade programme.
The Department of Transport could not say when that money would be available.
"As the Minister stated at the time, the remaining 29 projects will go to construction when funding permits," said a spokeswoman.
"They are being progressed through the planning process by the NRA and will be shovel-ready as funding becomes available."
The three completed projects were road realignments on the N55 between Corduff and Ballytrust in Co Cavan, on the N67 at Grag, in Co Clare, and on the N24 at Kilshane in Co Tipperary.
Earlier this week, the Road Safety Authority released a report which showed Cavan was the only county in Ireland to record an increase in the level of fatalities from 2007 to 2012.
The figures for fatalities in Offaly remained static during the five years while in Cavan road deaths increased by 20%.
Leitrim, Laois, Kildare, Monaghan and Clare showed the biggest reduction in road deaths in the five years that set new safety records throughout the country.
The accident blackspots where upgrades have been shelved:
CavanN03Annagh
CavanN03Drumalure Beg
CavanN03Kilduff
DonegalN13Carrownamaddy
DonegalN15Cloghfin
KerryN70Aghatubrid A
KerryN70Kilderry Bends
KerryN70Aghatubrid B
KilkennyN78Crettyard
KilkennyN78Corbetstown
KilkennyN78Damerstown West
LaoisN80Maidenhead
Limerick N69Ardaneer A
Limerick N69Ardaneer A
Limerick N69Robertstown
Limerick N21Ballyconway B
Limerick N21Ballyconway C
Limerick N21Ballyconway A
Limerick N69Bolane
RoscommonN61Carrigeens
RoscommonN61Corgrave
TipperaryN74Ballyhusty
TippperaryN52Borrisokane
TipperaryN24Arrigans Boreen
WaterfordN25Cushcam A
WaterfordN25Cushcam B
WestmeathN51Southhill
WicklowN81Knockroe
WicklowN81Irishtown West
Accident blackspots where roadworks have begun:
CarlowN80Leagh
CavanN03Lavey
CorkN72Dromagh A
CorkN72Ballyadeen
CorkN71Lahadane
CorkN20Ballybeg West
CorkN72Dromagh A
CorkN72Dromagh A
DonegalN56Ballyboe A
DonegalN56Ballyboe A
GalwayN17Carrownurlau
KerryN70Caherleheen A
KerryN86Camp junction
KerryN69Boltons Cross Rds
Kilkenny N76Rathaleek
MeathN51Ballyboy
Monaghan N54Tullygrimes
Monaghan N12Tamlat
Roscommon N05Carrowntoosan
Roscommon N61Killea
SligoN04Ardloy
Tipperary N24Kilshane B
Tipperary N24Kilshane A
Tipperary N24Ballydrehid
Tipperary N52Killavalla
WexfordN25Begerin
WicklowN81Whitestown Lower
WicklowN81Tuckmill Upper