Council to tackle Cork village's accident blackspot with traffic calming measures
Fermoy Municipal District Council hope to extend the 30kph speed limit out of Kildorrey village to cover the area. File picture: Denis Minihane
Council officials have revealed plans to reduce serious crashes at a notorious accident blackspot in North Cork.
The move comes following impassioned pleas from residents living at Scart, Kildorrery who recently outlined a litany of serious accidents at a bend there. There has been one fatality and a number of serious injuries, and vehicles have even crashed through walls and into local householders’ properties.
Senior executive engineer Brendan O’Gorman outlined safety plans which the council intends to introduce.
He told a meeting of the Fermoy Municipal District Council that officials have made a number of “site visits” to the area to see what’s needed to make it safer.
Mr O’Gorman acknowledged the road, which is just south of Kildorrey village and connects with Glanworth, is a very busy and fast section. He said he had no doubt that excessive speed is the primary factor causing accidents there.
He said that firstly the council intends to put in better road markings and cats eyes and warning chevrons on the approaches to the bad bend. It is also hoped to remove an existing hedge to provide better visibility of the bend and to extend the 30kph speed limit out of the village to cover the area.
Mr O’Gorman said the council will carry out speed surveys there before and after this phase of the traffic-calming scheme which will be undertaken shortly.
In addition, next year the council plans to construct a raised pedestrian crossing just north of the bend near the local national school and GAA club along with some other traffic calming works. This will require public consultation when the plans are ready.
Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre O’Brien welcomed the news, saying: “It is a very serious blackspot. It is so bad that the gardaí don’t even have a safe place there to carry out speed checks."
“The people living in the houses (close to the bend) are living in fear of their lives as cars are ending up in their properties,” added Fianna Fáil councillor Neilus Cotter.
Meanwhile, the meeting heard that the council’s NRDO (National Roads Design Office) has contacted Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) seeking permission and funding for a pedestrian crossing in Ballyhooly. The N72 national secondary road runs through the village and therefore TII has to be consulted on the plan.
A progress report on the crossing between the village’s community centre and Grove Estate was sought on behalf of locals by Independent councillor Peter O’Donoghue.
