Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the resurfacing of the Glengarriffe Road, N71, Bantry, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35063/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Introduction

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Act 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the upgrading, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Overall, TII is responsible for the delivery of the National Roads Programme in accordance with Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan (NDP). In that context, TII provides the Department with regular updates on its delivery of the National Roads Programme.

Background

Within the overall context of Project Ireland 2040, the NDP was developed by Government to underpin the successful implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF). This provides the strategic and financial framework for the national roads programme for the period from 2018 to 2027.

The focus of TII's activities is, accordingly, being directed towards the development of the major national road improvement schemes that are included in the NDP, along with the maintenance of the existing national road network.

In 2020, €230m is allocated from TII’s capital budget for essential asset rehabilitation on existing national road routes across the country, including cyclical road pavement resurfacing/renewals, bridge rehabilitation and other asset renewal/improvement works (including safety works).

N71, Bantry to Dunnamark

The project the Deputy is referring to on the N71 in Bantry is known as "the Bantry to Dunnamark route" project. Resurfacing at this location is being progressed through design, to tender, by Cork County Council as the relevant local road authority and contracting party. I would, in the normal course of events, expect the scheme to be carried out next year on this basis.

However, at this location, there is an interaction with works planned by Irish Water, which would have an impact on the delivery of these works and on the road surface. In the event that this delays progress on the scheme, Transport infrastructure Ireland and Cork County Council are also currently looking at short-term remedial measures, which could proceed in the near term in advance of more substantial resurfacing works.

Pavement Schemes Programme 2020

I wold note that this project is only one of a number of road resurfacing schemes along the N71 under TII’s Pavement Schemes Programme in recent years, including:

- N71 Seafield to Knockroe Pavement Repairs (previously Parkana to Knockroe extended)

- N71 Lissalane to Gillanes

- N71 Derry

- N71 Canrooska

- N71 Leap to Dromahilly

Currently, the following N71 resurfacing schemes are being progressed through design, to tender, by Cork County Council:

- N71 Bantry to Dunnamark

- N71 Glaslinn Road

- N71 Glengarriff

Safety Schemes

TII has also provided my Department with an update on the current status of a number of Safety Schemes on the N71 route, such as:

- Rosscarbery Pedestrian Crossing – in progress

- Gaggin Junction – in progress

- Ballinvoultig safety improvements – ongoing

- Bantry West approach – Feasibility report underway

- Bantry North approach – Feasibility report underway

- Leap footpath – Feasibility report underway

- Glengarriff footpath – Feasibility report underway

Outline of current projects on the route

TII has provided my Department with information on two new schemes that are currently relevant to the route.

Bandon Bypass Extension:

A feasibility study was completed by Cork County Council. A scheme Project Appraisal Plan (PAP) has also been prepared and approved by the Department of Transport.

Currently the N71 Relief Road around Bandon ties back into the existing road network via a very steep downhill gradient. Traffic also needs to negotiate a number of roundabouts and priority junctions within the built up area of Bandon. The N71 in this area is quite heavily trafficked with an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of between 9,000 and 14,000 vehicles and a Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) percentage of up to 5.0%.The proposed relief road extension would involve bridging over the R603 to remove the existing steep gradient and construction of approximately 2.5km of new single carriageway tying back into the existing N71 just to the west of the town.

N71 Newmills /Owenahincha scheme:

The Project Appraisal Plan (PAP) has been approved by the Department of Transport. Cork County Council is progressing the planning and design of the project. TII will consider the provision of funding for approval to proceed to statutory approval when the design process reaches this milestone.

Both of the above schemes are being progressed by Cork County Council through the planning and design processes.