Not everyone in the south-east is celebrating the news that Waterford is to have a motorway or dual carriageway link to Dublin by 2006.
The inclusion in the National Development Plan of the N9 with other national primary routes which are to be similarly upgraded is a setback for communities fighting plans for a major by-pass of Carlow town.
At a public meeting in Tinryland on Monday residents were told that the by-pass would split the local communities and have devastating consequences for east Co Carlow.
The meeting, organised by the Bennekerry & Tinryland By-pass Action Committee, was called long before the announcement of the national plan, as the Carlow by-pass proposal was already in the public domain.
It is now inevitable, however, that the chosen route will form part of the N9 motorway or dual carriageway which the Government plans to build between Waterford and Dublin and which has been widely welcomed by business interests in the region.
Nevertheless, Mr P.J. Hickson, the action committee chairman, said the group would not "lie down" and allow the bypass through without a fight.
While up to eight different routes are still being considered, the one most likely to be selected would begin in Co Kildare on the Castledermot-Carlow road and by-pass Carlow to the east before linking up with the current N9 again just inside the Carlow-Kilkenny border.
Originally known as route 18, two variations are now also on the table, referred to as 18A or 18B. Mr Hickson told the 150plus people who attended Monday's meeting that, whatever route was chosen, it would drive a wedge through both the Bennekerry and Tinryland communities.
"People don't realise how devastating this would be. You're talking about having a road slice through beautiful countryside and splitting the communities. It would have a devastating effect. Some argue it would ease traffic congestion on local roads but in fact it would have the opposite effect because they would be used as `rat runs' by people trying to get on to the main road," he said.
The committee's opposition to the by-pass may be a foretaste of other campaigns throughout the State when the ambitious motorway projects outlined in the national plan get under way.
Mr Hickson claims Carlow's traffic problems can be solved by the creation of an inner relief road in the town. This is disputed by Carlow County Council, which says a by-pass is the only way to cater for traffic which wants a clear route past the town.
The council is to continue its consultation process, including public meetings in January, before the matter comes before councillors again next March.