Council to buy land for slip road

CORK County Council officials are to proceed with buying land to build a west-bound slip road connecting the Curraheen interchange with the Ballincollig bypass, despite the fact the National Roads Authority doesn’t think it is necessary at this time.

Councillors reacted angrily yesterday when they heard county engineer Ned Flynn read out a letter from NRA officials stating, in their opinion, such a development was not warranted at this time, but it might be in the future.

However, they heard Mr Flynn say in his opinion it was needed and he was determined to start the groundwork, which would include issuing compulsory purchase orders (CPOs), Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and applying for planning permission.

Cllr Michael McGrath (FF) said the Ballincollig bypass was an excellent project which had come in under budget and ahead of schedule, but the omission of a ramp leading westwards from the interchange meant thousands of motorists had to use unsuitable roads to access the e170 million dual carriageway.

“The omission of the ramp means significant traffic implications in the whole Bishopstown area. One resident on the road has had 17 crashes into his wall. The Curraheen road is visibly disintegrating and there are 18,000 traffic movements on it on a daily basis,” Mr McGrath said. “It makes sense to do it now, rather than to wait later when it will cost more.”