THERE are no plans to tweak the junction at Baxter’s Bridge outside Bandon because council officials believe it is performing well, writes Kieran O’Mahony.

This was the verdict at a council meeting - despite huge concerns expressed from local councillors about the safety of the junction where a number of fatal crashes have occurred.

Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF) made the point that it’s a huge junction on the R586 Bandon to Dunmanway road and cars are often ‘whipping west’ from the Bandon direction.

‘You are on the junction before you know it and in about 10 years’ time it will almost be the entrance to Bandon town,’ said Cllr Coughlan.

Cllr Ann Bambury (SD) agreed and asked if they could raise that junctions or install further signage ahead of the junction.

Senior executive engineer Richard Cahill said they had levelled up the road to make is easier for motorists to cross over the busy junction.

‘The junction works much better now,’ he said.

Municipal District manager Padraig Barrett said: ‘Baxter’s Bridge is performing relatively well compared to other junctions. If we were look at the roundabout it would involve Part 8 Planning and costs would be in the region of between €5m and €8m.’

Cllr Bambury said there are accidents happening there which aren’t being reported to gardaí but Padraig Barrett said that all they can work with is the figures they receive from the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

He said that Bandon is unique in both Cork and the country in that two ring roads are being looked at.

‘There is no other town around that this is happening in and hopefully funding for both of those will continue to be given.’