Traffic works to start in Castletownbere

Phase one of a controversial new traffic plan for Castletownbere is to start later this summer.

Area engineer Aidan Prendergast confirmed at a meeting of the West Cork Municipal District  that €1.9m is to be spent on improving the approach road – from the garage located on the approach road to the junction at the edge of the town.

County mayor Patrick Gerard Murphy (FF) welcomed the fact that the planning process was adopted at the meeting and that it is now to go to the full Council. 

Although future plans to change the traffic flow in one part of the town centre and create a bypass has met with fierce local opposition, the mayor said: ‘I would encourage everyone to engage with the process and participate in the planning of this scheme.’

Details of phase one will be available for inspection until April 8th next at the area engineer’s office at Foildarrig, Castletownbere, while submissions and observations may be made up to and including April 23rd.

The planned improvements will be carried out in the townlands of Rodeen, Derrymihan West and Foildarrig, and will include the construction of a 3m wide shared use footpaths and cycleway; 2m wide footpaths elsewhere; traffic calming by narrowing the carriageway to 6.5m; junction improvements, including a right-hand turning lane at the Dinish Bridge junction; the creation of pedestrian crossings; landscaping; and signage. 

Mr Prendergast said the works will also include the installation of surface water drains, utility ducting, public lighting, retaining walls and the re-location of an ESB substation.

During the discussion, Cllr Danny Collins (Ind) recommended that the public notice, advertising the Council’s proposals for phase one, should be placed next to the Beara Notes in The Southern Star so that everyone in the community would be aware of it.