Traffic chaos in Dublin city centre will hamper national economic growth.
The Dublin city and county manager JB Molloy, has warned the government that Dublin city centre may become a no-go area for motorists and national economic growth could be hampered unless major road works are introduced to relieve congestion.
His submission to the Department of the Environment is accompanied by a survey of traffic needs in the city by Dublin Corporation's chief roads engineer Michael McEntee. The report is pessimistic about road improvement in Dublin.
The ambitious planning of the early 1970s for motorways and an underground railway is now seen as unlikely for the next 20 years barring an economic miracle.
Unless immediate remedial measures are taken in Dublin to tackle traffic chaos, the national targets for economic growth will be severely affected.
In the absence of major road works, traffic congestion will get worse and serious consideration will have to be given to introducing measures to limit the amount of traffic travelling into the centre of Dublin.
JB Molloy proposes that in the absence of the necessary money fully to implement recommendations, a programme of works, costing at least £325 million be undertaken as a holding operation to relieve congestion. But no meaningful plan can be made for resolving the traffic problem until the government indicates what money is available.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 January 1978. The reporter is Michael Walsh.
