Plans for new Mallow Relief Road unveiled

Plans were announced for the new Mallow Relief Road at this week’s Northern Committee meeting.

The preferred option emerging is ‘Option C’, a relief road that will bring traffic off the N20 at Mallow Hospital, and run north of the town by Ballyviniter Lower, to rejoin the N72 at Oliver’s Cross.

Tom Cannon of Barry Transportation, who have been employed by the council to do an assessment of the project, presented the option to councillors at the online meeting on Monday. The shortlisted options were assessed on the impact on 26 criteria, including agriculture, biodiversity, noise and impact on vulnerable groups.

Option C includes a walking path and cycle lane, protected by a verge, to run the length of the new relief road. It also incorporates a cycle path that will run from the Ballyviniter Lower in a southwest direction, following the path of the old railway line to Beecher Street in the town. The feasibility of linking this cycle path to the train station, by crossing the N20 where the footbridge is already, is being investigated with Irish Rail.

Option C is a ‘ protected road’, which means that planners do not envisage any direct access roads on to the relief road - commuters will have to make their way to Oliver’s Cross to ‘join’ the relief road and avoid the town.

RETURNING THE TOWN TO THE PEOPLE

Mr Cannon explained that as part of the process, other ‘non-road’ options were explored to move traffic away from using Mallow as a through-road, however, it was deemed that a ‘road-based solution’ was the most sensible option. He did note however that if active travel could be investigated and included as part of the scheme, it would be vastly more beneficial for the people of Mallow to ‘return the town to the people’.

The inclusion of the cycle path along the old railway line was warmly welcomed by councillors at Monday’s meeting, and deemed a “very complementary aspect to the plan”.

A number of landowners and farming properties will be affected by this option, and the next stage of the project is to approach these property owners with regards to plans and acquisitions, if necessary. After this, the project will go to public consultation, and then planning permission will be sought. If the process is seamless, Mr Cannon believed the project would be shovel-ready by late 2025.

At the meeting, Cllr Pat Hayes voiced his concern that the proposed relief road is prohibitively distant from the town, and that commuters may be tempted to take a ‘short cut’ through the town regardless of the relief road. Mr Cannon accepted that this was a concern, but “we will be working with the planners to work on the scheme and encourage people to use the road, and bring the town back to the people in Mallow”.

Cllr Hayes queried why another option, ‘B’, was dismissed. Mr Cannon explained to the meeting that Option B involves the potential of the acquisition of 6 properties and so would be more costly. Option B also includes the creation of an unsafe ‘7-arm’ roundabout layout.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn was enthusiastic about the new plans, but stressed the importance of engaging with landowners and the public as soon as possible.

“I’ve no doubt that this will bring Mallow back to its people, and be great for local businesses. However, full public consultation is vitally important. Go out there, meet the people, let them know what’s going on”.

Information and drawings of the proposed project are available at: https:// www.corkrdo.ie/majorschemes/