Comment & Analysis: The R132 Connectivity Project by Fingal County Council is facing heavy backlash and strong anger over traffic delays caused by the works. But regardless of what anybody thinks of the project along what used to be the Swords bypass, in the many videos from councillors, TDs, and others, theres a strange lack of mention that the project is required for MetroLink.When people in the comments mention the link to MetroLink, they are repeatedly faced with denial; this article explains why that denial is wrong. This is a companion article to the longer read on the same topic published on Sunday. 1. The R132 Connectivity Project is required to be built before MetroLink startsThe Railway Order, basically the planning permission, for MetroLink includes a condition clearly stating that the R132 Connectivity Project and the crossings in it need to be completed before works start on the railway the removal of the footbridges is part of the MetroLink enabling works planned for next year: IMAGE: The condition in the Railway Order.2. Even if the planning condition didnt exist, the enabling works require the footbridges to be removedAlong the R123 in Swords, MetroLink is basically going into a hole in the ground, which in some cases will get a concrete roof (cut and cover) and in other cases will be left open with fences around it. The trench for MetroLink is planned to be dug out from the surface. If you use the interactive map for MetroLink and zoom in, it shows how the trench for MetroLink goes through parts of the roundabouts and right through the footbridge structures. There is no way around getting rid of the footbridges.IMAGE: The former Estuary Roundabout, which is now a junction.3. MetroLink passengers are not going to be driving to stationsThe park-and-ride north of Swords is designed for people coming from further afield. Parking close to the stations along the R132 will be extremely limited. Walking, cycling, and using local buses will be the main ways passengers get to these stations.Massive roundabouts or adding slip lanes to the current design isnt compatible with that. Slip lanes are a danger to people walking and cycling and have been advised against in guidance in urban settings for well over a decade.IMAGE: An outline of the Swords Central Metro Station showing the Swords Pavilion Shopping Centre to the west (right) and indicative future development to the east (left).4. The R132 is no longer a bypass of Swords; MetroLink will cement it in stoneThe M1 has been the bypass of Swords for years now. The town has grown well beyond the days when the R123 was the Dublin-to-Belfast road.There is planned to be a lot of new housing and other development around not just the R132, but Swords overall. The map below shows the Metro and Rail Economic Corridor zoning in grey. This development cannot be car-dominated. Theres no room for a large fraction of this development to be people in cars making local trips into Swords, around the M50, or into the city centre.Some people claim this is a grand conspiracy that is against people and their freedom, but the grand conspiracy is all around us today people forced into cars with no options, and many with ever-longer commutes, long before cycle lanes or bus lanes got in their way.Others will advocate for ever-wider roads, but we can look to places such as the US, where this just adds to misery and in the process, often destroys the town and city centres which were loved.IMAGE: A zoning map showing the zoning councillors agreed to.5. MetroLinks project team have been clear: It wont be built without painGiving the impression that large projects can be built without disruption or teething issues, or giving the impression that construction impacts will last forever, are sure-fire ways of putting fuel on the fire of anger and enraging people more. Yet, this keeps on happening with many roads projects in Ireland and beyond. When roads are being dug up for anything, including not just junction redesigns or cycle paths, but also water main replacements, or even just major road resurfacing. In any case, the R132 project is not finished, and people should stop pretending it is, just because a small part of it is.Pretending there was never any traffic along the R132 as may have in comments online just does not match reality. Those claiming the roundabouts always enabled free-flowing traffic have very short memories. But what does this point have to do with MetroLink? Sorry, but if youre asking that you have not listened to the other points, including that the R132 works are effectively advanced enabling works for MetroLink.