KILDORRERY ROAD GETS NOD FOR REPAIR WORK
The National Roads Authority (NRA) have confirmed this week that the much needed repair work to the N72 from Mitchelstown to Kildorrery will soon get under-way.
However, while the funds for the repair of the N72 to Kildorrery have been allocated, a spokesman for the NRA could not confirm if money was available for the long awaited works in Kildorrery village, “The NRA is committed to seeing the works completed as discussed with local councillors on the N72 and N73 in County Cork, but it is subject to the availability of funding for this current year (2010).
"The NRA is undergoing a national review for funding and if resources become available these works would be a main area of focus for completion within County Cork. We are hopeful but there are no guarantees until the review is completed by the end of September early October,” Sean O’Neill, press spokesperson for the NRA, told The Avondhu.
ENGINEER OPTIMISTIC
While the NRA would not be drawn on the possibility of work beginning in Kildorrery village, Cork County Council senior engineer Aidan Weir is optimistic that work will go ahead in the village this year, “While the funds are in place and the work on the N72 from Mitchelstown to Kildorrery is set to begin. We will be putting the proposed work in Kildorrery village out to tender in the near future and all going well we hope to begin work before the end of 2010,” Aidan Weir told The Avondhu.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING
Additional funding of €3 million for the N73 Mallow – Mitchelstown road was granted by the National Roads Authority (NRA) this week.
“I welcome the news that instructions were given by the NRA for Cork County Council to go to design and tender stage with regards to Kildorrery village. This was announced by the NRA prior to the Northern division of Cork County Council meeting NRA officials in Dublin Councillor Tom Barry told The Avondhu.
THIRTY ONE YEAR WAIT
Following a motion proposed by Cllr Tom Barry to Cork County Council last October to prioritize a major upgrade of the N72 Mallow- Fermoy road, members of Cork County Council and Council engineers met with NRA officials. Cllr.
Barry stated that thirty-one years was far too long to wait for funding and ten deaths were completely unacceptable. He informed the NRA that there are thirty-three blind bends on the Castletownroche – Mallow section of road with some parts too narrow for large vehicles to pass safely.
“All it takes for a fatal accident to occur here is one temporary lapse in concentration or somebody to make a mistake," Cllr Barry said.
FRANK IS CONFIDENT
Cllr Frank O’Flynn is confident that while the proposed work at Kildorrery village is now to go out to design and tender funds will be found for work to begin early in 2011, “the work is long overdue and I am sure that work will begin early in 2011,” Cllr O’Flynn said.
Tom Keating of Kildorrey Community Council commented, “We have waited long enough for the work to begin in the village and we hope that this will begin before the end of the year.
"I am looking forward to the job being well done and especially burying the overhead cables with new lighting and the pedestrian crossing sorted which has been left in unfinished state for the last ten years. I would like to thank everyone for their hard work, councillors Kevin O’Keeffe, Frank O’ Flynn and Tom Barry.
"Special thanks to Pa O’Driscoll who took the time to walk the main street last spring and has kept us informed of progress on the situation. Thanks to Brendan O’Gorman Cork County Council for pursuing the matter over the years and everyone that helped us in getting to this stage.”
Published:
Thursday 2nd September 6:48pm
