Locals ‘furious’ as NRA halts plans for long-awaited road project

THE National Roads Authority has put the brakes on a second major project in north Cork.

Works were expected to commence in late 2006 on the planned roundabout at Rathduff-Grenagh junction.

But the NRA has stated funding is not available for the scheme.

In recent weeks, the NRA also announced it was not giving the green light to the northern relief road for Mallow.

Residents in villages, bordering the dangerous stretch of road and forced to use the junction, are furious at the NRA’s latest decision.

Locals said the proposed roundabout was a high priority road safety project.

Initially, residents were told the project was being delayed but the NRA confirmed, midweek, the roundabout scheme was not on its 2007 road works.

Ironically, due to the dangers posed to motorists, the NRA had invested heavily in a major safety project — the so-called retrofit or 2-1 system — between Mallow and Rathduff.

The system involved putting steel wires, instead of crash barriers, along the centre of the road and gardaí have said it has contributed significantly to reducing serious accidents.

Pat Moynihan, who owns a shop close to the junction, said people were taking serious risks trying to cross the main road.

“There’s a huge stream of traffic on this stretch from 6.30am to 9.30am and, again, from 4.30pm to 7pm every weekday. I’ve seen several bad accidents caused here, mainly because people are frustrated by waiting to get through the junction,” said Mr Moynihan.

Philip Walsh, who runs a locally-based refrigeration company, said the problem was exacerbated by huge housing developments in the locality.

“Homes are going up left, right and centre and this leads to more cars coming out of villages trying to get onto the main road, and that’s making it even more dangerous,” he said.

Martin O’Sullivan, a teacher at Rathduff National School, commutes to work from Ballincollig. “I arrive by the main road but, in the evenings, I return home on the back roads because it’s just too dangerous trying to negotiate the junction. I’ve seen lots of accidents there. There’s a temptation to take a chance,” he said.

Parents’ Association chairman Chris Casey said he was extremely shocked by the NRA decision. He said the association would collect a petition in protest.

“Up to half the children attending the school are living on the opposite side of the main road,” he said. “Even moving into the ghost island to cross isn’t safe. The whole issue has been highlighted many times.”

Local Labour councillor John Gilroy said elected members had been shown plans for the roundabout last summer and were delighted it was going ahead. He said following queries, from anxious locals, he contacted the NRA and found, to his disbelief, that the project was off this year’s list.

“It now appears the NRA has a very disordered level of priorities. The Government is talking the whole time about road safety but this schemes did not proceed due to lack of money. Putting finance over road safety is just inconceivable,” Cllr Gilroy added.