Writes Leo McMahon
Additional safety barriers are needed alongside the Owenabue River on the Ballea Road, said Cllr Seamus McGrath (FF) at the monthly meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).
He acknowledged the work done in installing new barriers in the past two years but said there was need to do more, noting that a vehicle went into the river near one of the bridges in February along what is an exceptionally busy regional road from Ringaskiddy and Carrigaline towards West Cork.
An cathaoirleach Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) spoke in support as did Cllr Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Ind) who stressed the need for continuity of the barriers.
Senior executive engineer Madeleine Healy replied that the remaining sections of Ballea Road that ran directly adjacent to the river would be examined for appropriate protection measures. Some sections were not close to the river and where a barrier was required there had to be sufficient ground to install one, hence the assessment. Cllr McGrath welcomed her response.
Station Road
In another motion, Cllr McGrath requested additional public lighting at Station Road, Carrigaline.
In a report, the engineer said the road was examined last year by the public lighting team and deemed to have adequate lighting and asked if there was a specific location he was referring to.
Cllr McGrath said the black spot was at the top of the road approaching St Philomena’s Place which he had walked himself at night and where there was no footpath and dense trees. One additional light would make a huge difference. Ms Healy said she would ask that this location be examined.
‘There are concerns about cars not stopping’, said Cllr McGrath when requesting additional signs and markings on the crossing at Church Road, Carrigaline near Riverside estate. He believed that all crossings should be raised. The engineer said this would be looked at.
Cllr McGrath again referred to the appalling state of the Owenabue car park in Carrigaline and asked if there were any plans to do anything soon. The issue was previously raised in a motion from Cllr Una McCarthy (FG). MD officer Denise Kidney said the matter would be discussed with the council’s finance section.
In reply to Cllr McGrath’s motion at a previous meeting seeking traffic calming near Ringaskiddy and Lower Harbour National School, the engineer said the area office had got the data from the existing digital driver feedback sign but had not yet done a full study. She undertook to report back.
On a happier note, Ms Healy said eir had applied for road opening licences that would include the repair of the chamber on the footpath near Carrigaline Court Hotel, Ballea Road as sought several times by Cllr McGrath.
Cllr Marcia D’Alton (Ind) enquired about the request made to the Roads Design Office (RDO) about changing the ‘under taking’ inner lane leading to the junction at Janeville, Carrigaline to one for public transport and left turning only. The engineer replied that she had passed this on to the RDO and would follow up.
Both Cllrs McGrath and Jack White (FG) highlighted the need to improve the parking situation near St Mary’s Church of Ireland and graveyard at Church Road as part of the Carrigaline Transportation and Public Realm Enhancement Scheme.