SEOSAMH O CATHAIL,
Madam, - The opinion piece of December 27th by James Nix, "When it comes to developing a truly national motorway plan, less is more", made interesting reading.
The convergence of so many national routes on Dublin's M50 already has a serious funnel effect - and this before building motorway beside the N7, N8 and N9.
A recent Limerick-Dublin journey took me two hours as far as Newlands Cross, and another two hours to Dublin. In the lane beside me, Cork and Waterford registered cars were having a similar experience.
Will the regional linkages envisaged by the National Spatial Strategy ever develop if all motorways lead to Dublin? A more grid-like network is necessary - and for the sake of the capital as much as the regions. At the moment congestion is said to cost Dublin businesses €5.5 million a day (€2 billion a year). Gridlock can only grow if a radial motorway system is fixed on the city. - Yours, etc.,
SEOSAMH Ó CATHÁIL, Clanwilliam Court, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.