Traders in Cashel, Co Tipperary, have said they are hopeful the intervention of the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, will result in changes to the design of the proposed Cashel by-pass.
Following a meeting between the Minister, local traders and politicians this week, the traders said they were assured the National Roads Authority (NRA) would look again at the design of the by-pass.
Initial plans put forward by the NRA indicated roundabouts at the northern and southern end of the 7km eastern by-pass of the town. The plans also indicated a midway interchange, giving direct access to the north and southbound carriageways of the by-pass from Cashel.
A subsequent review by the NRA, however, resulted in the deletion of two "on" and "off" ramps for the by-pass.
The roundabouts at either end of the by-pass have also been dropped, and the whole route, the M8 Dublin to Cork motorway, is being fast-tracked at the behest of the Minister.
Following a presentation at the meeting by the Cashel town manager and the traders, the NRA said a lot of new material had now come to light. A spokesman for the NRA explained the Cashel by-pass was originally designed in isolation, but was later made part of the new inter-urban super-highway linking Dublin and Cork.
During this redesign, new guidelines on junction spacing were applied, and it was no longer deemed to be cost-effective to provide full access for the town at this location. The Department of Transport confirmed the NRA would consider the new information brought by the chamber and the Department.
Among those contributing to the presentation was the Cashel town manager, Mr Billy McEvoy, who told the Minister a number of large developments in the town and its environs required access to the by-pass.
He said the council needed to do all it could to encourage investment, and stressed the importance of the town as a national centre of tourism.
Senator Martin Mansergh, who organised the meeting, said feelings were running very strong in Cashel. He added that investment should lead development "and not the other way round".
