Anger as Bandon's North Main Street opening further delayed

BACK-to-school traffic in Bandon will be made even worse with the extended closure until the end of September of North Main Street.

The route closed on June 17^th for nine weeks. However, it’s now thought it will remain closed to traffic until at least the end of September and residents expressed their anger at the news on social media in recent days. The delay is to allow pipe construction as part of the major water main rehabilitation project underway in the town and is only one of several roads closed.

Ward and Burke Construction is working on behalf of Irish Water to deliver this two-year, €14m project.

FF Cllr Gillian Coughlan has called for official confirmation that North Main Street, the main artery for three primary and two secondary schools, is to stay closed.

‘If it’s four weeks it will cause congestion and frustration but if it’s any longer than that I would have serious concerns,’ she said.

As it is, the works are causing difficulties for strangers who aren’t familiar with diversions, she said, adding that signage was poor.

The Dunmanway Road is to close from October to January while McSwiney Quay will close from October to November, along with a raft of others.

Meanwhile, the farmers’ beef protest at the ABP plant in Kilbrogan on Wednesday added to the snarl ups and delays already being experienced in the town.