'Chicane' formation of Glengarriff's new footpaths forcing trucks to mount kerb, says council

One councillor on Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District said the footpaths were wide enough 'to land a 737'

A councillor on Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District said if two trucks meet at that point it would pose a serious safety hazard for pedestrians. File photo

A section of new footpath in Glengarriff is forcing trucks to cross the centre line of the road and to mount the pavement because it is too wide, according to local independent councillor Finbarr Harrington.

In a motion presented to Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District Mr Harrington asked: “That this council would give a full and detailed report on the newly constructed footpaths to include, Section 38 approval, the auto track program design, the tender quotation, the total cost, and carry out a safety audit in the section of road on the R572 from Coomarkane cross junction to the pedestrian crossing at Glengarriff river (approx 300 m).” 

Mr Harrington said a short section of the footpath in a “chicane” formation was too narrow for large trucks and busses and was forcing them to mount the kerb. He said if two trucks meet at that point it would pose a serious safety hazard for pedestrians. 

Supporting the motion, Independent Ireland’s Danny Collins said he raised the size of the new footpaths before. He said they were wide enough “to land a 737”. 

Responding for the council, engineer Mark O’Sullivan said the works from the junction of the R572 and N71 Glengarriff village to the junction of the R572 and L-4927-69 Coomarkane junction were commenced in 2022 and completed in 2023.

He added: “The initial works consisted of the replacement of the existing northern footpath, construction of a section of new footpath, junction works and preparatory works for the installation of a controlled pedestrian crossing at Glengarriff Bridge. 

"All of the works were constructed within the existing 50kmh zone with the vast majority of the works within the existing yellow lines.” 

Mr O’Sullivan said a Section 38 process was not necessary as the scheme was focused on pedestrian connectivity and not traffic calming. 

However, a Section 38 process was conducted in 2024 for the installation of the footpaths and associated works to the west on the R572 outside of the existing 50kmh zone and auto track design was carried out at the time of construction with some amendments made to the kerb lines as a result of this.

The successful tender amount was in the sum of €30,928.75 including VAT for the replacement of the existing riverside footpath, works at the junction, ducting, etc. for a new pedestrian crossing and a section of new footpath on the northern side of the R572. Materials for these works were generally supplied by Cork County Council.

Following the successful completion of the northern footpath works and given the continued availability of National Transport Authority (NTA) funding the decision was made to construct a footpath on the southern side of the road. 

The total cost of the works was €143,570.04, including two footpaths, speed detection sign, raising a stone wall boundary, surfacing the Coomarkane junction, surfacing a section of old Castletownbere road for junction widening works, removing and replacing a section of the new southern footpath subsequent to auto track analysis, drainage, ducting, etc.

He added: “Road safety audits are generally carried out during the design process or immediately post-construction on certain road schemes. It is not proposed to carry out a road safety audit on this scheme.” 

Mr Harrington asked for the chicane pinch point to be re-examined. He said: “There will come a day when two lorries meet and somebody vulnerable is on the footpath and there will be an accident.” 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.