‘Zero Cars’ Policy – Carrigaline
County Council senior engineers will implement a ‘zero cars’ policy on Main Street, Carrigaline between 8am and 11am on weekday mornings in an effort to tackle the severe traffic issues.
The move from council comes following consultation with their City Council counterparts in relation to the partial pedestrianisation of Patrick’s Street, a move which has already been hailed as hugely successful in the city.
Only buses and taxis will be permitted to drive on Main Street, between Cogan’s Corner on the southern side and the Carrigaline Court Hotel on the northern side. Private cars will divert either via Ferney Road and Bothar Guidel or off the Kilmoney Road to Captains Boreen and Bothar Glas.
Under the strict new rules, not even delivery related traffic will be permitted access to Main Street during the designated hours, an aspect which has been heavily criticised by business owners.
The bittersweet move will inevitably lead to less traffic congestion on Main Street, especially during the build-up to school hours, however, local politicians, parents associations and school principals have expressed concern. “It’s all very well to say Main Street is going to be free of traffic”, said one local Primary School principal, “but we feel the congestion approaching Carrigaline from the Crosshaven side will only be made worse around the Lidl roundabout and coming from the western side of the village with increased traffic that’ll inevitably flow from the Ballea Road side”, she concluded.
The changes are expected to come in to effect in May, with a view to giving motorists a period to get used to the new system coming in to the Summer months, ahead of a pick up in traffic levels in late August as schools return.
We’ll have further information in next week’s edition.
Pic: Adrian OHerlihy
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