Kilkenny TD criticises slow progress on Ring Road completion
Local Green Party TD, Malcom Noonan has made the comments
Kilkenny County Council has submitted documents to the Department of Transport for further information on the next stage of a detailed design for the Castlecomer to Freshford Road section of the Kilkenny Ring Road, Kilkenny Live understands.
"Progress is painstakingly slow for such a vital project, particularly as the western environs housing and school developments are going up fast," Kilkenny TD and Minister of State, Malcom Noonan said.
"New internal road infrastructure will only serve to distribute traffic along existing residential routes and HGV traffic can only be taken out of the picture with a complete ban on through traffic once the next phase of the ring road is complete. Only then will we be able to reconfigure our urban space for cycling, walking and public transport," he added.
"The Central Access Scheme has provided no material benefit to reducing congestion or reducing traffic flows on Greensbridge. If anything, it has made matters worse," Minister Noonan claimed.
"While its disappointing that such little progress has been made to advance the construction of the next section of ring road, I will do all I can to help bring the project to the next stage," Mr Noonan concluded.