Madam, - The Minister for Transport has instructed the National Roads Authority to put forward proposals for an outer ring road from Drogheda to Naas in order to relieve the M50. While this may appear logical, the intrinsic flaw of ring roads is that they cause the convergence of streams of traffic which should, as far as possible, be kept separate. London's perpetually congested M25 should serve as a warning against this approach.
In terms of the traffic they generate, Drogheda and Naas are already well within the greater Dublin area. A new ring road would almost certainly generate a rash of new building in a large arc to either side of it, most of it dependent for economic viability on its proximity to Dublin.
Therefore, within a relatively short period, perhaps 15 to 20 years, this would be likely to create more problems than it solves by duplicating the existing congestion on a larger scale.
The same resources invested in a motorway situated further west and linked appropriately to existing roads would have the twin benefits of drawing regional traffic away from the M50 and encouraging the development of towns such as Monaghan, Mullingar, Tullamore and Portlaoise. This would provide a counterbalance to the sprawl of Dublin, instead of encouraging it.
Ministers remain addicted to headline projects likely to generate short-term support, to be launched just ahead of elections. Little or no heed is paid to the long term. In all areas of the public service we are today reaping the consequences of decades of poor or non-existent planning. Yet all we are offered is more of the same. - Yours, etc.,
CHARLES BAGWELL, Millbrook, Straffan, Co Kildare.