Planned Offaly national road work on hold: Nolan

Independent TD Carol Nolan said she is seeking urgent clarity from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) around the approval of €1.8 million in road improvement tenders for projects in Offaly and Laois.

Deputy Nolan said that following engagement with the Irish Asphalt Pavement Producers Association (IAPA) it has been brought to her attention that TII has instructed all local authorities to withhold planned road improvement tenders unless they receive explicit approval from TII.

The IAPA also informed Deputy Nolan that despite multiple attempts to seek clarity on the rationale behind this decision, it had been offered little to no explanation regarding the extent or nature of these changes.

The projects that may be impacted in Offaly and Laois include Offaly County Council works on the N62 Doon to County Boundary Pavement Scheme valued at €1,200,000 and Laois County Council N77 works on the Course to Dunmore Pavement valued at €600,000:

“I can only agree with the assessment of the Irish Asphalt Pavement Producers Association that this is a deeply alarming situation both for the asphalt and road construction industry, but more importantly for the development of safe road infrastructure within the constituency,” said Deputy Nolan.

“As I understand it from the IAPA, early industry estimates indicate that up to €38 million of the €67 million in planned road improvement projects announced last February, have not yet been put out to tender, with nearly €10 million of already tendered schemes now being withdrawn by TII across the country.”

“We need urgent clarity on this matter from the TII on what the rationale behind this directive is and whether or not it originated with the Minister for Transport; because at present it appears to be entirely senseless and without any kind of merit whatsoever,” concluded Deputy Nolan.