Writes Leo McMahon
Concern about speeding and poor visibility at Coolmore Cross on the busy road between Currabinny and Carrigaline was voiced by Cllr Liam O’Connor (FG) at the monthly meeting of Cork County Council’s Carrigaline Municipal District.
Cllr O’Connor, who works at Jannsen Ireland, one of many major industries in the Ringaskiddy area, and travels the road every work day, pointed out that while there is a 50kph zone at the cross, speeding was a problem there.
Cllr Liam O’Connor
The entrances at Coolmore Cross were concealed and there are lots of near misses as he found out from residents and workers in the area. Drivers exiting from Coolmore had poor visibility, added Cllr O’Connor who asked if a mirror, flashing or ‘concealed entrances’ signs could be erected where the road went from 50kph to 80kph very quickly.
In agreement, Cathaoirleach Seamus McGrath (FF) asked about portable speed activated flashing signs in the Coolmore Cross area. Cllr Marcia D’Alton (Ind) said it was difficult for residents of the lodge to exit and thought speed activated signs could be used in different parts of Ringaskiddy as sought by the residents’ association.
Senior executive engineer Madeleine Healy said she would see if the Shanbally turn off could be highlighted better. To have flashing signs erected here, along with the existing ones on Church Road near Watepark and at Ballea Road would mean three sets over a relatively short distance and in her opinion would lessen the impact.
She suggested councillors consider moving one of the existing set of speed activated lights to Coolmore Cross on a temporary basis. Cllr McGrath said he wouldn’t be in favour of moving any existing signs but senior executive officer Jim Molloy said the original intention was that all should be moved after a period of time which would enable the council to determine if these were effective in specific areas. The engineer added that speed activated signs were planned for Ringaskiddy village.
‘Park and ride’
Cllr O’Connor said Glenwood Estate off the Cork Road, Carrigaline was being used as a ‘park and ride’ by some commuters going to the city every work day and were taking up the turning area and residents’ parking. He asked if signs could be erected.
Ms. Healy said it was her first time hearing about such a problem and it was difficult to know what to do. The council didn’t usually put down double yellow lines in estates because it interfered with residents and if there was a residents only parking sign, who would enforce it?
Cllr O’Connor, who is a member of the local Tidy Towns committee, said many of the drains in the Owenabue car park and the streets of Carrigaline were completely blocked. It would make a huge difference if these were cleared because there was flooding in heavy rain, especially from Main Street as far as the Lidl roundabout on Strand Road. The engineer said gullies were cleared three or four times a year and would be done again.
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