The `least controversial by-pass' runs into a wall of unexpected opposition

The number of objectors, and the strength of their objections, to the Dundrum and Wyckham by-pass in South Co Dublin surprised observers at the first day of the public inquiry into the route, at Dun Laoghaire Town Hall yesterday.

What had been hailed in advance by councillors as "the least controversial by-pass in the country" suddenly changed when a greater number than expected of senior counsel, architects, professional town planners and residents arrived.

The result was standing room only as the ministerial inspector, Mr L.A. O'Connell, opened the inquiry.

What is collectively known as the Dundrum by-pass is in fact three road schemes: the Dundrum Main Street by-pass, the Wyckham by-pass and the Ballinteer Road improvement scheme. The 3km road is expected to reduce traffic levels in Dundrum by a third and ease traffic flow between Ticknock and the south city area. It will also provide a connection between the Ballinteer Road and the Sandyford Road.

Travelling from north to south, the Dundrum by-pass begins at Taney junction, which is to be widened to four lanes in each direction. The route passes to the rear of the shopping centre and runs parallel to the Main Street to its crossing of Ballinteer Road.

The new by-pass will pass under the Ballinteer Road, with the bridge over the Slang river being rebuilt.

From here the route crosses the pylons at Dundrum Castle to a roundabout south-west of the Crazy Prices supermarket. Here the route becomes the Wyckham by-pass, and an eastward spur connects to the Sandyford Road.

The Wyckham by-pass continues from the roundabout, passing close to the Lynwood and Ardglass housing estates before joining the Ballinteer Road at its junction with Ballinteer Avenue. The route then runs south to a junction with College Park, where a further proposed road will link it to the south-eastern motorway.

Giving evidence on the need for the by-pass at yesterday's hearing, Mr Garry P. Smyth, of Roughan & O'Donovan, consulting engineers, said the traffic system in Dundrum at a number of points was considered to be deficient, or grossly deficient.

These points included Taney Junction, the Main Street in general and the bridge over the Slang on the Ballinteer Road.

Mr Smyth said he was satisfied the existing road network could not handle the volume of traffic and added that the proposed construction of a link between the Ballinteer Road and the southeastern motorway would make the situation worse.

Under questioning from Mr David Rowe, a representative of An Taisce, Mr Smyth said continuing the route of the Wyckham by-pass to Kilmacud would relieve east-west traffic, but do little for north-south traffic.

He did not accept it would be better to take the by-pass traffic on to the Stillorgan Road, as opposed to the Dundrum-Milltown road.

Mr Smyth also ruled out the possibility of tunnelling the route in the area of Sweetmount Park, maintaining that ground levels meant that the tunnel entrance would be 7 m high.

Mr Bernard Slattery, a resident of Ardglass housing estate, said he was concerned that the carriageway would pass on high ground to the rear of his and his neighbours' properties on a level with our bathrooms and bedrooms". Mr Slattery said there was a danger of traffic leaving the road and entering his garden from a height and at speed.

He said he had discovered that the plan was to place a high bank between the road and his house.

Insisting that this was unacceptable, Mr Slattery was supported by a number of residents who maintained that the bank would "simply give the cider drinkers additional height from which to look into our homes".

In response, Mr Smyth said he did not consider the elevation of the road to be unacceptable in view of the fact that there were to be 18 metres between the road and the houses.

The hearing is to continue tomorrow when Mr Smyth is to give further evidence in relation to the environmental impact statement associated with the route.