Inquiry will hear site for interchange is historic

An oral hearing into the proposed Laughanstown interchange on the M50 on Tuesday will be told the site is archaeologically more important than its neighbouring interchange at Carrickmines.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is holding the public inquiry as part of its plans to enlarge the interchange which will link the M50 through Wyattville with Dún Laoghaire.

The area is home to some national monuments, notably a megalithic wedge tomb on which the interchange is to be located.

Archaeological surveys at the site undertaken by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have revealed what is thought to be Bronze Age artifacts, including pottery and cremated human bones.

Archaeologists have also uncovered remains of a battle site believed from the 1798 rebellion, and evidence of a Viking settlement. Buttons of regiments were also located, including those of the Kildare Militia, the Louth Militia and the Royal Irish Artillery Regiment.

The nearby Tully Church dates from the 12th century, and according to the journal the Modern Antiquarian the 12th century saw "a period of intense activity around this area".

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is seeking to amend its approved plans for the motorway junction to accommodate increased traffic resulting from the development of the Cherrywood retail park.

The South Eastern Motorway is the final part of the M50 which follows a 9km route between Shankill and Ballinteer in south Dublin. Included in the road, which is expected to cost more than €500 million, are seven bridges and three interchanges, at Carrickmines, Laughanstown and Shankill. Design and route selection for the road was completed in 1996, with construction expected to begin in 2001.

It was, however, delayed by a legal challenge from Jackson Way, a property company, and by a campaign to save the remains of Carrickmines Castle.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will return to court on Monday in an attempt to lift a High Court order which has stopped work on the Carrickmines interchange.

Yesterday, the council's director of transportation, Mr Eamon O'Hare, said it could not say whether a new legal challenge was likely. The redesign of the Laughanstown interchange was to facilitate the increased volumes of traffic which were evident since the interchange had been initially designed.

However, Dr Mark Clinton, who directed the archaeological dig at Carrickmines Castle, said he was "amazed" the council could get an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) done so quickly "at the behest of the private property developers".

The oral hearing, under Bord Pleanála, will feature a submission from Green Party TD Mr Ciaran Cuffe. He told The Irish Times he was also surprised at the ability of the council to get an EIS completed so quickly, and he would be concentrating on whether it was appropriate for the council to facilitate the Cherrywood development in this way.