A number of options were investigated that followed the existing
N9 corridor between Gowran and Thomastown and were then routed west
of Inistioge to climb the south Kilkenny hills alongside the Arrigle
Valley. Options then occupied the higher ground between Tory Hill
and Glenmore before dropping towards to planned Waterford Bypass.
Options in this corridor were discarded because of the high environmental
impacts associated with crossing the Nore Valley in the vicinity
of Thomastown and the engineering disadvantages resulting from the
steep gradients and high elevation of the road. It was concluded
that the scheme objectives could not be met using this corridor.
