Dáil debates
Thursday, 3 March 2022
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
Road Projects
10:10 am
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made on completing the N22 Macroom bypass; if auxiliary works to the N22 Macroom to Ballincollig corridor will be considered as part of this project under road safety for road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12076/22]
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The works on the N22 Macroom bypass seem to be moving very quickly, which is very positive. Locals are raising questions about various aspects of the road and in particular the two tie-in points with the existing road at An Sliabh Riabhach on the west and at the Lee bridge at the eastern side. On the western side locals feel they might end up having to travel up to 2 km to loop around to get on the road to Cork. There is also concern that the eastern edge, where people get on and off the existing road, would be kept safe.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, the planning, design, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
The ongoing new bypass project consists of the construction of a dual carriageway from Macroom to Ballyvourney, finishing just before the county bounds of Kerry. The project comprises a 22 km dual carriageway with four junctions beginning west of Ballyvourney passing north of Macroom and rejoining the existing N22 south of Macroom.
Construction commenced in the first quarter of 2020 and is due for completion in the first quarter of 2024. Construction is progressing to plan, with significant earthworks operations under way. Construction of a significant number of structures is ongoing. The longest precast concrete beams in Ireland, at 49 m, were manufactured for a bridge on this scheme and were successfully lifted into place in December 2020. In addition, a large steel deck was successfully launched across a river and valley in March 2021. A number of structures with decks in place will facilitate the mass haul of earthworks on the scheme from west to east.
Overall, works are approximately 60% to 65% complete with full completion expected in 2024 and a possible early opening of a section of the scheme in late 2022 or early 2023.
TII has informed my Department that signage will be provided at both ends of the scheme to warn the oncoming road users of the new road layout ahead. Cyclists and pedestrians will be asked to use the old N22 which will be adapted, where possible, to accommodate active travel modes.
Cork County Council is reviewing the existing junctions to ensure road safety. The N22-R585 Castlemore junction is currently under assessment and will be subject to safety improvements in early next year. Other junctions on this section of the N22 will be reviewed in order of priority, taking account of accident data.
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Clearly great headway is being made on the road and the Minister has outlined some of the very large structures that have been put in place. It would be very welcome if there was an opportunity to open the piece around the town ahead of the rest as much of the work has already been done with bridges in place and so on. I would encourage the Minster to raise that with TII and the various authorities to see if it is possible to open the piece around the town first.
I wish to focus on the tie-ins, at the western end at An Sliabh Riabhach and the eastern end at the Lee bridge, which should be safe for locals - not people who are on the new road but people accessing the old road immediately adjacent to it. Every effort should be made to ensure it is safe at those points, for example coming up at An Sliabh Riabhach or at the Lee bridge and going up to the Danone plant.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I will contact TII and pass on the Deputy's suggestions in that regard. His first suggestion about the early opening of the section in order that Macroom town would be bypassed makes eminent sense. It is a town that has struggled and suffered from the volume of traffic through it. It is a beautiful town which I think will rise once the bypass is built.
I really hope that Cork County Council will consider removing through traffic from the centre of the town or providing for access only. We do not want to restrict anyone's access. Of course, the Deputy knows the town square very well. There would be enormous benefit if we take out that through traffic thereby creating a civic space which could bring a concentration of life back into the town. It became very much a commuting town for Cork, Little Island and so on with people commuting to work. By bringing the centre back to a really amazing public place, we will get people working and living in Macroom and a really strong sense of community. Putting the bypass in provides an opportunity to take the through traffic out and we should start with the main square in Macroom.
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Minister's positive outlook on Macroom and I welcome that. The progress on the bypass section is very positive. The section just east of it remains a concern, especially for people getting on and off the existing road, for example, turning in at the Danone plant or at Dunisky, Ballytrasna, Killcondy, Stage Cross, Cloughduv or Castlemore cross. Both junctions will remain there, totally independent of the bypass because they are east of the town. Can measures be put in place to make it safe for people to get on and off the existing road between Ballincollig and Macroom? Some people cross over and back, including students going to secondary school in Coachford, coming from Cloughduv, Aherla, Crookstown and Ovens, are over and back that road several times a day, as are people from Farran going to Éire Óg for training. There is much back and forth traffic and it is important for those junctions to be made safe.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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While I know that road like the back of my hand, I do not know the details of how the junctions and slip roads will work. However, as I said earlier, I will ask Cork County Council and TII to look specifically at how the existing road network fits in. We do not want a major national artery which divides local communities. It needs to give them safe and easy access into the town. I fully accept the Deputy's point and will ask the engineers to look at it in detail.