Wexford landowners set up a second blockade of the M11 extension works this Tuesday. At 10am, a procession of farm machinery crossed on to the motorway at Oulartard, two deep, completely blocking construction equipment.

With a line of lorries transporting road material from a temporary cement plant a few kilometres to the south, work quickly ground to a halt.

This is the latest in a series of daily escalations in the dispute between landowners and contractors BAM. It means the M11 extension is now blocked at two points, with the Deacon family roadblock still in place about 10km to the north.

IFA south Leinster chair Tom Short meets representatives of BAM construction at the site of the M11 in Tinnacross, Co Wexford. \ Pat O'Toole

IFA South Leinster chair Tom Short led discussions with senior BAM representatives on behalf of the landowners. They want a meeting involving all stakeholders – BAM, Dragados, the other main contractors, the national roads and rail infrastructure authority Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Wexford County Council.

Plant machinery at a standstill during a farmers' protest at the construction site of the M11 in Tinnacross, Co Wexford. \ Pat O'Toole

For its part, the BAM representatives wanted the roadblock cleared so work could resume.

The response when that was relayed back to the farmers was swift and clear.

The roadblock would be remaining in place until talks were arranged, and landowners wanted to see a clear change in attitude to dealing with the issues they are presenting.

Listen to Norman Kearney, one of the farmers affected, in our podcast below:

A list of itemised problems with over 20 landowners has been collated by the ad-hoc committee set up following last Saturday's meeting. This dispute may escalate further before it is resolved.

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