Carrigaline Education Campus
Infrastructure Must Be In Place Before It Opens Say Councillors
Writes Leo McMahon
Cork County Council is taking a three strand approach on traffic improvements regarding the three school Carrigaline Education Campus at Ballinrea Road, members of its Carrigaline-Ballincollig Municipal District (MD) were informed at their monthly meeting.
Cllr Seamus McGrath (FF) had a motion seeking an update on infrastructural and pedestrian safety improvements associated with the development, reiterating the importance of having these in place before any school opening.
Work is well under way at the extensive site that will comprise a gaelcholaiste, gaelscoil and Sonas Junior Primary School.
In a report, MD officer Kevin O’Regan said the council’s three strand approach was: 1) traffic calming and improvements to Ballinrea Road between the campus and Ashgrove roundabout; 2) pedestrian access to the school and a new crossing on Cork Road and 3) upgrading of Ashgrove roundabout and Ballinrea cross roads.
Preliminary documents for 1) were being prepared with a view to delivering these in advance of a school opening in 2019/2020. ‘We have some draft proposals for traffic calming and await a full topographical survey to complete the detailed design.
‘We are not expecting any land acquisition issues with this section of the scheme but it will be required for the proposed pedestrian entrance on to Cork Road and this is currently being investigated. The crossing on Cork Road will be developed in tandem with this.’
Proposals to upgrade Ballinrea Cross and Ashgrove roundabout were also progressing with consultants having prepared a report with options currently being reviewed, said Mr O’Regan who added that a full estimate of the entire scheme would also be prepared ahead of the project becoming a ‘Part 8’ application by the council for planning permission.
Welcoming the report, Cllr McGrath said he remained concerned about the timeline and very much doubted the Department of Education and Cork Education and Training Board would have any school open by 2019. Nevertheless, getting the infrastructure in place, involving the ‘Part 8’ application, possible compulsory purchase orders and going to tender must be completed in advance of any opening. Cllr John A Collins (FG) spoke in support.
Cllrs McGrath and Marcia D’Alton (Ind) raised concerns expressed at a Garda Forum meeting about the hoarding of the campus site being too close to the edge of Ballinrea Road resulting lack of visibility and one section of it protruding.
Senior executive engineer Madeleine Healy said the entrance for the campus would be a controlled junction with traffic lights done. She undertook to follow up on the query about the hoarding.
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