‘I can’t see another bridge being built over the Blackwater’

A proposal for a relief road in Fermoy in light of major developments coming on stream for the town was extended last week and has since seen questions raised regarding alternative solutions for traffic management in the town.

Local activist, Joe Tobin, said he believes a traffic study is needed for the town to discover how much traffic is coming through Fermoy rather than using the motorway and alternative routes.

“How many trucks or cars are coming through the town rather than taking the motorway to avoid the toll? That is something that should be asked before spending billions on a relief road,” Mr Tobin said.

According to Mr Tobin, Cork County Council should undertake discussions with toll operators DirectRoute, in order to find a means to ease heavy traffic and backlogs in Fermoy.

In June 2004, DirectRoute was awarded the Public-Private Partnership contract to operate the toll on the M8 motorway outside Fermoy town.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland notes that this contract was signed on June 11, 2004 and will extend for 30 years from that date, with DirectRoute being responsible for the collection of tolls for approximately 27 years.

Local councillor Noel McCarthy stated that because of this contract, no changes can be made to the existing toll.

“There’s no doubt that the majority of traffic is coming through the town to avoid the toll. I agree that getting rid of the toll would solve the problem, but we can’t do that because of the contract. We can’t even appeal it until the contract is out,” Cllr McCarthy said.

At the time that plans were being drawn up for the motorway, it is understood that the first plans included an on/off system to the M8 near Fermoy Community Hospital. However, this was overruled.

‘DANGER AREA’ ADDRESSED

Traffic lights located outside Shinnick’s Spar at the top of Barrack Hill in Fermoy were also sighted as an issue by Mr Tobin.

“The traffic lights in Pearse Square and outside Shinnick’s on Barrack Hill need to be looked at. The Dublin Road traffic lights are causing a huge backlog there because of the delay in the change,” he said.

Cllr McCarthy noted that these traffic lights were one of the first issues he raised when elected as councillor, claiming that before such lights were installed, the crossroads on the Dublin road were a ‘health and safety issue’.

“These lights are needed for the people living at St Bernard’s Place and St Joseph’s Square, and for the children attending the school there. Before the lights, that cross was a health and safety issue and there were issues with sightlines.

“I know people who would turn left and go around behind Amber just to avoid the lights. It was a real danger area,” Cllr McCarthy added.

QUAY-TO-QUAY CROSSING

At Kent Bridge, new traffic measures have been recently earmarked with an Active Travel investment of €100,000 announced last week for a new signalised junction, to help pedestrians cross the bridge quay-to-quay.

Potential traffic lights at the bridge have been the source of much conversation locally. However, many are still awaiting clarity on the topic.

According to an unnamed local business owner, the area can be dangerous for pedestrians.

“It is quite a dangerous spot for pedestrians. They might need some measure there, but there doesn’t seem to be any concrete plans yet,” the local said.

Under Active Travel Funding, €60,000 was also announced last week for another measure in safeguarding pedestrians and cyclists, with Cork County Council to look at the possibility of a new footpath and cycleway over the Blackwater, linking the R666 and Pike Road to the proposed new town centre or the Mill Island car park. This scheme, however, will only look at the zoning of the project.

Other measures highlighted by Mr Tobin include introducing a one-way system on O’Neill Crowley Quay to ease traffic in the area in relation to the new developments.

The possibility of a oneway traffic system on this road is understood to be something that has been floated in discussions on previous occasions, however, again no specific measures have yet been outlined.

According to a local business owner who spoke with TheAvondhu, going forward, the possibility could become a reality.

“It’s just rumoured, but it is plausible with the amount of development that is happening in that area”.

TIME TO ‘FIGURE IT OUT’

Pointing to the length of time it takes for such relief roads to be built, Mr Tobin indicated that traffic management solutions would be a more immediate and effective option.

“I can’t see another bridge being built over the Blackwater in the next decade. We have a bridge, we have the infrastructure, but what we haven’t got is the willingness to sit down with the right crowd and figure it out”.

In the motion raised at last week’s Fermoy Municipal District meeting, local councillor Noel McCarthy pointed to the nearly completed Primary Health Care Centre and the planning permission sought for a new Tesco store, both located in the Mill Island area and asked whether the council has considered the need or feasibility of a relief road in light of such developments.

At the time, Senior Engineer with Cork County Council, Brendan O’Gorman, stated that the proposal is ‘ being considered’ in conjunction with measures that fall under the Tesco planning application.

“There is an overall traffic management plan required for the town. It’s about a redistribution and it’s about getting it right for the town but we’re looking at all things, not just one particular item,” Mr O’Gorman said.