West Cork councillor calls for faded road markings to be renewed while contractors are already on site

Better coordination between Cork County Council and contractors carrying out utility or road works could improve safety and make public money go further, councillors told

Road markings were sometimes reinstated only across a small excavation, while lines along the surrounding road remained faded or absent, councillors told. Stock image. 

Faded road markings should be renewed while contractors are already working nearby, rather than restoring short stretches and leaving the rest barely visible, a West Cork councillor has urged. 

Fianna Fáil councillor Alan Dromey said better coordination between Cork County Council and contractors carrying out utility or road works could improve safety and make public money go further.

He told a West Cork Municipal District meeting that road markings were sometimes reinstated only across a small excavation, while lines along the surrounding road remained faded or absent.

Mr Dromey cited Shannonvale as an example, saying a short section might have its markings restored while the remainder was left without visible lines.

Where specialist crews and traffic management arrangements were already in place, he argued, it could make sense to extend the work.

“I believe a little more forward planning could deliver improvements in road safety while making better use of public money.” 

Mr Dromey said he was not proposing that every road be repainted whenever work took place. 

He wanted the council to examine opportunities where renewing a longer section would be practical and cost-effective.

Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins supported the motion, describing instances where excavations cut through painted road warnings, leaving only part of a word visible.

Senior executive engineer John Ahern said road opening licences required contractors to replace markings damaged or removed during excavations. 

That work was generally carried out by specialist contractors engaged on behalf of the licence holder. 

Renewing markings beyond the area covered by the licence was a separate expense, funded through the council’s general road maintenance budgets.

Mr Ahern said contractors working for the council also had to go through its procurement and safety vetting procedures. However, he said opportunities to coordinate the two processes would be considered case by case, where budgets allowed.

Mr  Dromey welcomed the response, saying keeping a marking crew working along a road could be more practical than stopping after a small patch.

• This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme