Roundabout upgrade set to cost €380,000

WORK is to be carried out on one of the most congested junctions in Cork to help aid traffic flow.

After commissioning a consultants’ report, Cork County Council has decided to put in an additional approach lane at the roundabout adjacent to St Patrick’s Church on the Rochestown Road.

The work, which will involve the acquisition of some land, is expected to cost in the region of €380,000.

Details of the project have been released to councillors in the Carrigaline Electoral Area (CEA) who have given it their approval.

Engineers have informed the National Roads Authority of the plan and are expected to start design work shortly.

Councillor Seamus McGrath, who is a member of the CEA, said the news was most welcome as the roundabout was regularly grid-locked, especially at rush hour.

Cllr McGrath, who is also the mayor of Passage West, said the extra lane would be a great advantage to motorists from his home town heading towards the N28 South Ring Road.

“The Rochestown Road has become a very serious traffic bottleneck in recent years. Motorists travelling in the city direction on the Rochestown Road have experienced lengthy delays. I have been asking the council for some time to examine ways of improving traffic flow on this road,” Cllr McGrath said.

He said as part of the process, the council commissioned WSP consultants to conduct a review of the operation of the roundabout on the Rochestown Road at St Patrick’s Church.

“The consultants have recommended the creation of a second traffic lane at the roundabout for traffic coming from the Passage West direction. This recommendation has been accepted and the council now intends to implement this,” Cllr McGrath said.