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Road Improvement Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2019

Thursday, 21 November 2019

Questions (20)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

20. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken to allow for greater safety for motorists turning on and off the N22 between Macroom and Ballincollig, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48142/19]

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Written answers

I would like to explain that, as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

In the overall context of Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan 2018-2027 (NDP) has been developed by Government to underpin the successful implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF).  This provides the strategic and financial framework for TII’s national roads programme for the period from 2018 to 2027. 

In the ten years covered by the plan, over €11 billion will be invested in the overall road network.

The National Development Plan (NDP) identifies two categories of national road improvement projects

- the first category covers projects to advance to construction, subject to the satisfactory outcome of the project appraisal and development consent approval processes;

- the second category relates to projects at pre-appraisal and early planning stage which are being assessed with a view to developing a pipeline of suitable projects for development.    

Background

Following the economic downturn and the subsequent reduction in the availability of exchequer funding, Project Ireland 2040 now provides for the gradual build up in funding for the roads network but, it will take time to restore funding to the levels needed to maintain the road network in a 'steady state' condition, and allow for investment in new road improvement schemes. 

This is marked by the Government’s recent approval of a number of key major road infrastructure projects around the country and for the Cork region, such as the Ballyvourney to Macroom, and the construction contract has been awarded and the formal signing is scheduled for the 29th November 2019.

Safety assessments

TII  assesses the  current  condition  and performance  of the  national  road network on an  annual  basis,  considering aspects such  as capacity, traffic volumes,  level of service, road pavement condition,  condition of structures and safety.  In addition, they carry out a collision analysis of the entire national  road network, in compliance with the EU  Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) Directive. The purpose of this exercise is to identify locations that have high concentrations of collisions.

N22 between Macroom and Ballincollig

Having consulted with TII, I can provide the following information and update to the Deputy on the N22 road between Macroom and Ballincollig:

The N22 Ovens to Macroom major scheme, which links the N22 Ballincollig Bypass to the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom scheme, is a legacy project proposal. This scheme was suspended some time ago, at which time it had been developed to the stage of  route selection. This scheme remains suspended and has not been identified in the NDP among the projects to be progressed. There are, therefore, no current plans to progress the planning and design of this project.  

Traffic calming measures, Safety feasibility Report and pavement strengthening.

However, while there are no plans to progress a major scheme,  traffic calming measures have been carried out at several of the junctions along the existing National Road in recent years.

In relation to one of the remaining unimproved junctions, the N22/R585 junction at Castlemore, Cork County Council are progressing the preparation of a HD15 Feasibility Report. Once completed, it will be issued to TII's Safety Section for review and consideration for funding.

 In addition, pavement strengthening proposals are also being considered.

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