Council to begin badly needed repairs on national road in West Cork this year

It was confirmed that it was intended to complete the works in 2027. File picture: Denis Minihane

Badly needed resurfacing works at a degraded section of the N71 in West Cork will go ahead in two phases in order to reduce delays in repairing the most seriously affected part of the road, council officials have confirmed.

The poor condition of the section of the N71 road at Ballylickey near Bantry has been flagged at numerous council meetings by local councillors.

A motion proposed to the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Committee by Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins stated: “I am calling on Cork County Council to outline their plan and to include design and drawings for pavement works required at the N71 at Ballylickey which has been recently allocated €3m in funding.” 

Responding for the council, Padraig Barrett, director of services for roads said: “The Cork National Roads Office is progressing the design and tender documents for the N71 Ballylickey to Dromkeal Pavement Strengthening Scheme Phase 1. 

"This is to be split into two sections. The first section is from Seaview House Hotel to a point 1.5km east towards Bantry. The second section is from Snave to the speed limit gateway at Cronin’s Service Station.

“The section remaining in the middle will be completed as part of Phase 2 of the Scheme in 2027, funding dependent. This middle section includes a safety scheme which requires specific design works and TII approval. 

"If approval is granted and funding allocated for both the safety scheme and the pavement scheme, they will be completed as one project in 2027.” 

It was confirmed at the meeting that work on the first two phases would go ahead in 2026 to avoid any further delay in addressing the road surface. It was confirmed that it was intended to complete the remaining section in 2027.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.