Planned motorway sparks concern for pedestrians
The communities of Rathduff and Grenagh are bracing themselves for the fallout from the development of the multi-million euro Cork-Limerick motorway which will form part of the Atlantic corridor.
Some local businesses and houses will have to be bulldozed to make way for the road, including a shop owned by the same family for more than 50 years.
But the biggest concern is the NRA’s plans to close off some local roads and create a major intersection at Rathduff.
Parish priest Fr Liam Kelleher said the proposed scheme will turn the village of Grenagh into a rat-run.
“Closing the current junction at Ardnahone will force more traffic from the wider area into Grenagh and onto the junction at Rathduff,” Fr Kelleher said.
“The road through the village is very narrow, barely two cars can pass there at a time.
“When I first came to Grenagh in 1999 there were 95 children in the local national school. Now there are 210,” the parish priest said.
Moynihan’s shop in Rathduff has been in his Pat Moynihan’s family for the past 50 years and will be bulldozed to make way for the motorway.
The businessman says he’s not against progress but is worried about people’s safety.
“The NRA are destroying the whole place. There are a lot of issues which have to be resolved,” Mr Moynihan said.
Earlier this week, more than 200 locals met with representatives of the NRA to highlight their concerns.
Fr Kelleher said the communities in Rathduff and Grenagh had been split once before, when the N20 was developed 20 years ago.
He said local residents would continue to lobby the NRA to alter the current plans.
