Revised road layout plan for Cork suburb

Council engineers are planning a revised road layout and the synchronisation of traffic lights at junctions in a busy Cork suburb to prevent a heavily-congested area grinding to a complete halt.

Cork County Council’s senior transportation engineer Peter O’Donoghue warned Douglas, with a projected local traffic increase of 8% by 2033, requires necessary works.

He said an objective of the Douglas LUTS (Land Use Transportation Study) was to have the existing roundabout at the junction of the South Douglas Road and the N40 off-ramp at West Douglas upgraded to a signalised junction.

Mr O’Donoghue told county councillors the roundabout was effective but replacing it with traffic lights would improve traffic flow.

He said council engineers had carried out traffic flow modelling and were confident the installation of the lights would not lead to a back-up on the N40 access ramp.

The planned scheme, he said, would also provide for faster bus journey times along the South Douglas Road and aid parents bringing their children to and from local schools at peak times.

“An 8% increase in traffic is likely in Douglas by 2033. It would have a significant impact on the area if this work isn’t done — otherwise there would be extensive delays,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

The county council is to seek permission to undertake the work as part of the area where affected by any likely works was within the city council jurisdiction.

Mr O’Donoghue said he was confident funding for the project will be provided by the National Transport Authority.

He said the plan also included a revised layout of the road into Willow Park and Gaelscoil Na Doughlaise along with the extension of footpaths and traffic islands in the general area.