'Anguish and trauma' - Calls for major Tipperary road project to be fast-tracked

A major Tipperary road project which people have been "waiting decades for" has been again raised in the Dáil.

The issue of the Tipperary Town bypass was raised by TD Mattie McGrath, who called for the project to be fast-tracked as "people have literally been waiting for it for decades," the Tipperary TD said, with traffic issues in the town causing "anguish, trauma, noise and pollution" to people in the town.

In response, Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien told the Dáil that the project was currently going through the design and environmental evaluation phase, which will see a "detailed design of the project undertaken, along with the preparation of land acquisition documentation and surveys," Minister O'Brien said.

"Transport Infrastructure Ireland has advised my Department that it is anticipated that this phase will conclude in the second half of this year, after which a preliminary business case will be submitted to my Department, as per the infrastructure guidelines," the Transport Minister added.

READ MORE: Planning sought for coffee dock in stunning area of Tipperary

Responding to the call for the project to be fast-tracked, the Minister said that once the current stage of the process is over, it will be clearer as to whether this will be possible.

"My officials will continue to engage with TII with regard to this project, including, I can assure the Deputy, on the feasibility of fast-tracking elements of the project such as the Tipperary town bypass," Minister O'Brien said.

Deputy McGrath then asked that the Transport Minister visit Tipperary Town to see the traffic chaos for himself.

READ MORE: Tipperary pensioner appeals jail term imposed for failing to remove log cabin home

"It is a long way to Tipperary and I hope one of (the Transport Minister's) first visits will be to Tipperary Town to note the anguish, trauma, noise and pollution that are experienced daily owing to hundreds of trucks travelling bumper to bumper.

"The people of Tipperary town are wonderful. Some years ago, 5,000 of them took to the streets with March4Tipp, along with Jobs4Tipp and County Tipperary Chamber," The Tipperary TD outlined.