Writes Leo McMahon
Upgrading of Ballinrea Cross and expediting the road and safety improvement works near the Carrigaline Education Campus being developed in its vicinity was urged at the October meeting of Cork County Council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).
In reply to a motion from Cllr Ben Dalton-Sullivan (Ind), John Slattery, engineer in the Roads Design Office said upgrading of Ballinrea Cross would be part of a range of measures being rolled out by the council. It included upgrading Ashgrove Roundabout and the road from there to the campus as well as provision of pedestrian connectivity enhancements on the R611 Cork Road.
Upgrade of Ballinrea Cross was scheduled to follow the upgrade of Ashgrove Roundabout and Ballinrea Road which would shortly be jointly subject to the ‘Part 8’ planning procedures by the council, he stated. ‘The delivery of all proposals is subject to the successful acquisition of the necessary consents and funding’.
Acknowledging the report, Cllr Dalton-O’Sullivan said a number of people had contacted him saying they would like to see work started on improving the dangerous Ballinrea Cross as soon as possible.
In support, cathaoirleach Seamus McGrath (FF) said he raised at the Southern Committee earlier that day, the issue regarding works associated with the Education Campus at Ballinrea Road and was concerned over the slippage in time progressing this.
‘We still haven’t received the design for the actual road works which don’t include Ballinrea Cross as this is follow on. We were in July when were told there were some minor changes to be made but these are not here before us today. These works have to happen so I’m flagging that every effort is made to progress these by bringing the plans back to us.’
He suggested the matter be raised again with the Non National Roads office and this was agreed.
Drain Cleaning
Cllr Dalton-O’Sullivan also asking that in advance of the winter, the MD would prepare a gully and drain cleaning programme.
‘After heavy rain in the winter months, small floods can occur on roads and estates and cause disruption to commuters,’ he said and asked that the programme be extended to cover parts of Bandon-Kinsale MD, such as Ballygarvan and Ballinhassig, which are now in the new look Carrigaline MD and for a similar programme to be drawn up by Bandon-Kinsale MD and furnished to him.
The engineer assured him the annual drainage programme was usually presented to members in January or February in each MD as soon as the council’s budget was known.
Appropriate signage to be installed at Ballinphellic, Forest Road to slow down vehicles was proposed by Cllr Dalton-O’Sullivan. The engineer undertook to investigate but said the council wouldn’t be in a position to do anything until the end of the year, adding that it was previously in the Bandon-Kinsale MD area.
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