Upgrade of 'dangerous' stretch of Cork road to take years, councillors told

Junctions at sections of N22 between Macroom and Ballincollig 'are each as dangerous as the next', with 'crazy amount of traffic' on the road

Cork council seeking the funding to commence 'initial stages' for the upgrading of the road between Coolcower, Macroom and Ovens — which is the section which remains to be turned into dual carriageway. Picture: Denis Minihane

Upgrading the “dangerous” stretch of road between two Cork bypasses will take many years to progress, a senior council engineer has warned.

Sean Callery, the council’s senior executive engineer in its roads design office, issued the warning as he announced the council is seeking funding from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to start progressing designs to improve the N22 section between Macroom and Ballincollig.

He said the local authority was seeking the funding to commence “initial stages” for the upgrading of the road between Coolcower, Macroom and Ovens — which is the section which remains to be turned into dual carriageway.

However, he warned: “It is important to note that the development of a scheme of this type and scale will take many years to progress through the various processes set down by Government and in this regard will require ongoing Government support and funding if it is to be delivered.” 

The issue arose after Fianna Fáil councillor Gobnait Moynihan asked what was happening to the yet-to-be upgraded section between the two bypasses, because “many junctions on it are each as dangerous as the next.” 

Ms Moynihan said it was important that the council push as hard as it could to get finance for upgrading the section for safety reasons.

Fine Gael councillor Michael Creed said it had taken more than 20 years of lobbying to get the money to develop the Macroom bypass, and upgraded plans for the remaining section must start as soon as possible.

He maintained there was plenty of width along it to widen it.

“It’s crazy the amount of traffic on that road,” Fine Gael councillor Ted Lucey said, and suggested they should invite the three local TDs to a meeting to make them push for its upgrade. 

Officials said they would send them invitations.

Municipal district chairman, Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Looney said the country’s population was continuing to rise and this is reflected in the increasing number of vehicles on the road.

“It is going to be a big task to get this done. It will have to be step by step but at least we are now seeing the first step on what will hopefully be progress made on the project,” Mr Looney said.

Meanwhile, Macroom town centre and approach roads have benefitted from TII funds to upgrade them following the creation of its bypass — which is normal practice.

The resurfacing project is now completed, but the same has not been done in the village of Ballyvourney, which was also bypassed.

Ms Moynihan asked council officials why this had not happened.

She was told a submission had to be made to TII for similar funding and this would be lodged for it next year.