Press Release

N24 Preferred Route Corridor- February 2002
The preferred route corridor in relation to the various options outlined during phase 2 of the public consultation is as follows:

From the N9/N24 Junction (as proposed in the Waterford By-pass Scheme) the corridor takes the Southern Option through New Aglish to the Roundabout at Waddingstown. The corridor then proceeds on the common option to join the Piltown / Fiddown By-pass at Clonmore Cross.

Access

In general access along public roads will be maintained by bridging over or under the new road. Access to individual property will be considered on an individual basis.

Width

The preferred route corridor, which has been announced, is approximately 100 metres in width. The final road will be constructed within this corridor. It will be approximately 26 metres wide at minimum, where the road is a dual carriageway, with greater land take required at either cut or fill areas to allow for side slopes and at intersections. The single carriageway section will be 20 metres wide.

While it is anticipated that the section of road from Waddingstown Roundabout to Clonmore Cross will be single carriageway, no decision has been taken on the road cross section between Waddingstown and the Waterford By-pass.

Landowners Affected

It is estimated that 47 landowners may be affected by the preferred route corridor. A letter was sent to each of these individuals inviting them to private consultation meetings.

A total of 2 residences are within the preferred route corridor.

The owners of all houses directly affected by the route have been visited to explain how the process develops from this point.

Compensation will be paid to land owners and householders whose property is required to be purchased as part of the scheme.

Option of Widening Existing Roads

The option of widening the existing road has been rejected for the following reasons:

1. Greatly increased community severance.
2. High property acquisition required.
3. Significant disruption during construction.
4. Safety and capacity requirements would lead to access restrictions and possible permanent road closures.

What Happens Next?

• Completion of Route Selection Report end of March.
• Walk over Surveys / Ground Investigation.
• Compulsory purchase Orders end 2002.
• Oral Hearing, if required.
• Construction of the new road planned to commence in 2004.

For more information contact: Joe Gannon, N24 Project Co-ordinator, Kilkenny Co. Council at Freephone 1800 488 884 e-mail: nro@kilkennycoco.ie