Business leaders in the south-east are to send a strong message to the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, that there should be no delay in the building of a Dublin-Waterford motorway.
Concern that the project could take even longer than its 2007 targeted completion date is mounting since the Minister cast doubts on the likelihood of the National Development Plan (NDP) being delivered on schedule.
His comments 10 days ago have caused consternation in the south-east, where business and other community groups see motorway access to Dublin as vital for the economic development of the region. Mr McCreevy said it was his goal to ensure that major roads and public transport projects were delivered on time, but in the current economic climate it was uncertain.
There is a feeling in the south-east that the Dublin-Waterford motorway or dual carriageway would be the most vulnerable in the event of cutbacks.
The project is less advanced than other motorway programmes and was added to the NDP at the last moment, following intensive lobbying and the intervention of Waterford-based Minister of State, Mr Martin Cullen.
Among those now lobbying Mr McCreevy to ensure the project is not delayed is Nicky Fewer, the chairman of a taskforce, Strategy Waterford, established by the Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, this year, to develop an economic vision for the city and its surroundings.
In a letter being sent to Mr McCreevy this week, Mr Fewer says the taskforce has identified the Waterford-Dublin motorway as the single most important investment needed in the region. In its report, to be published shortly, it would be recommending that the Paulstown to Waterford stretch of the highway be developed ahead of the 2007 target date.
IBEC South East, the umbrella group for businesses in the region, also intends to contact the Minister in the coming days to express its concerns, it is understood. And in a statement yesterday, Waterford Chamber of Commerce said it was "unthinkable" that the motorway could be delayed.
Its president, Nick Donnelly, said juggernauts and other vehicles were travelling on inadequate country roads and having to negotiate small towns.
Anti-motorway groups, however, are uniting along the proposed route to oppose the project. The N9/N10 Unified Group, affiliated to the Campaign for Sensible Transport, argues that an upgrade of the existing road is a better option.