Safety Measures Urged At Church Road, Carrigaline

Writes Leo McMahon

Safety measures, including a pedestrian crossing, are needed along Church (Currabinny) Road, Carrigaline, said Cllrs Patrick Donovan (FF) and Eoghan Fahy (SF) at the monthly meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Municipal District.

Cllr Donovan had a motion requesting an update on the Carrigaline Transportation and Public Realm Enhancement Plan (TPREP) for this area and for a timeline on works.

In a report, senior engineer with the council’s Sustainable Travel Unit (STU) John Slattery, said since the TPREP was adopted in 2021 there had been significant progress on active travel projects and infrastructural improvements and these were ongoing.

‘A suitable technical advisor is to be procured for the detailed design of Main Street, Carrigaline Public Realm Enhancement this year with commencement of construction targeted for 2027 subject to agreement with the National Transport Authority.

‘This will include Church Hill, a section of Kilmoney Road, Ballea Road, Strand Road and Rose Hill. Further sections of the TPREP including Church Road, will follow subject to funding and resources,’ Mr Slattery added.

Safety improvements have been requested for the busy Church (Currabinny) Road, Carrigaline - photo Leo McMahon

Cllr Donovan said Church Road was in need of an upgrade that would include a proper crossing, more footpaths and traffic calming as well as proper connectivity to The Water’s Edge and Estuary estates.

‘It’s effectively a rat run to and from Ringaskiddy and Shanbally with a serious volume of traffic,’ he continued and in welcoming the report, urged that Church Road be kept on the radar as soon as funding became available. Cllr Fahy seconded.

In his motion, Cllr Fahy asked the council to assess the area of Church Road by Horizons (formerly Cope Foundation) residential care home and other units and consider the installation of a continuous accessible footpath, a safe pedestrian crossing point, appropriate traffic calming measures and accessibility improvements for wheelchair users and vulnerable pedestrians. Cllr Donovan seconded.

In support, Cllr Una McCarthy (FG) said she too was contacted about the matter. It was very important to have connectivity along the busy main road and finally to have feedback about TPREP which was positive.

Mr Slattery reported that Carrigaline TPREP Phase 1B received Part 8 planning permission in 2024 and included proposals for improved pedestrian and cycling facilities along Church Road from Cork Road to Rock Road and The Estuary. It included continuous footpaths on both sides and raised entry treatments along the road to facilitate enhanced pedestrian movement.

‘A brief is currently being prepared for a technical advisor for the remaining elements of Phase 1A which include Main Street, Kilmoney Road and Church Hill. The detailed design and construction of Phase 1B, including Church Road, will proceed following this subject to funding approval and provision’, the engineer added.

Welcoming the response, Cllr Fahy said that it would be good if even small sections could be undertaken at Church Road as soon as there was funding.

PepsiCo bus stop

Cllr McCarthy had a motion requesting the relocation or redesign of the railing erected beside the new bus stop outside PepsiCo, Crosshaven Road, Carrigaline.

‘It currently projects outward on to the main road and presents a potential safety hazard. Concerns have been raised that a passing bus or heavy goods vehicle could clip the railing, causing damage to vehicles and posing a danger to pedestrians waiting at the bus stop’, said Cllr McCarthy who added that a number of people had contacted her about it. Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF) seconded.

In a report, the STU engineer said the works were undertaken directly by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of Cork Network Redesign. The council would forward the motion to the NTA. Welcoming this, Cllr McCarthy said the railing just had to be moved back a very short distance.