Constraints Report - South > 1. Introduction Menu > 1.1 Need for the Scheme

1. Introduction

1.1 Need for the Scheme

The upgrading of the Dublin to Waterford inter-urban road link has been identified as a requirement by the National Roads Authority (NRA) in their National Road Needs Study (July 1998)1 and now forms part of Government Policy. The new road link is set out as an objective of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme element of the National Development Plan (2000–2006)2 (NDP).

The NRA 'Assessment of Waterford-Dublin Route and Road Type Options' paper (February 2000)3 identified a 'Central N9 Corridor' as the preferred route for the inter-urban road link. Route corridor options located further to the east (N11/N30/N25) and to the west (from N8 via Durrow) were also considered by the NRA before selecting the preferred corridor.

The initial assessment by the NRA also recommended that the proposed scheme should be a dual carriageway / motorway road in its entirety meeting 'level of service' objectives so as to ensure consistency of route standard, maximise road safety benefits and secure uniform operating characteristics.