Eirgrid officials say the upgrade of the N25, Carrigtwohill to Midleton, road will never go ahead - if the Celtic Interconnector cables are laid along its entire length.
That is according to today's Irish Examiner.
The Celtic Interconnector will consist of more than 1,000km of electric cable bringing electricity from northern France to Ireland - in an attempt to secure sufficient power supplies for Ireland.
Eirgrid expect to start laying the cable next year.
The seabed cable will make landfall at Claycastle beach in Youghal.
From there, it will follow the N25 as far as The Two Mile Inn, to the east of Midleton, with minor diversions on the route around the villages of Killeagh and Castlemartyr.
The Irish Examiner is reporting today that Eirgrid’s Onshore Project Manager, Shane Cooney, says laying cable alongside the N25 from Carrigtwohill to Midleton now will inhibit the future upgrade of the road.
It has already been delayed because of a lack of government funding.
Cooney says Transport Infrastructure Ireland officials are of the same opinion as Eirgrid.
Eirgrid say they will appoint Community Liaison Officers to minimise disruption to locals, while a Community Benefit Scheme will be opened to provide money for local projects in the areas impacted.
