Business leaders suggest a new ferry to skip the route altogether
Queues on the R630/Whitegate Road(Image: Liam Quaide TD)
A new video shows the true scale of traffic impacting hundreds of East Cork drivers every morning as the back-to-school rush returns.
The footage, uploaded by local TD Liam Quaide, shows a lengthy tailback running for hundreds of metres from Midleton‘s Lakeview Roundabout and back up the R630/Whitegate Road. The Social Democrats rep said that this traffic chaos has become a part of “daily life” for locals in the area – as some business leaders suggest a new ferry in Cork Harbour to skip the route altogether.
Speaking to Cork Beo, Midleton‘s Fine Gael Councillor Rory Cocking said that some school bus services have also had to be moved earlier in the morning to deal with the traffic. He added that the roundabout has had congestion issues for many years – but these seem to have been “exacerbated” by the recent Ballinacurra to Midleton Active Travel Scheme works.
This project has added a cycle and walkway from the Lakeview Roundabout to Ballinacurra, with works now stretching onto the busy Bailick Road leading back toward the Midleton Main Street.
Cllr Cocking said: “Now I know it’s not complete, and we have said to Council officials on several occasions that there needs to be improvement. I think they’re confident there will be once the works are complete and once it’s fully open. We are trying all we can as councillors to engage with the officials responsible.”
Liam Quaide has acknowledged the many benefits of the project, which he said has been praised by vulnerable road users, including pedestrians with visual impairments. He also believes that improved connectivity will be vitally important for the area as Midleton’s population is set to reach almost 28,000 by 2034.
He added however that the current congestion has become unsustainable – especially as “substantial further residential development” is planned along the corridor.
Teachta Quaide said: “The scale of the problem was brought home to me at an IBEC event this week, where business leaders suggested a ferry connection across the harbour, potentially being the only realistic prospect of significantly shortening some of those commutes.
“I want to work constructively with Cork County Council on this. The Council faces difficult constraints and there may be no single or simple solution. But improving traffic flow through Ballinacurra, while protecting vulnerable road users, has to become a priority.”
Cork County Council’s website says the Ballinacurra Active Travel Scheme “supports national and local objectives to enable safer, healthier and more sustainable travel choices, while ensuring the R630 continues to operate as a key transport corridor for residents, businesses and essential services…
“The project has been designed in accordance with the Department of Transport’s Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) and the Cycle Design Manual and has been audited by an independent Road Safety Auditor. These standards ensure that layouts, crossing points, junction treatments and visibility requirements are developed using nationally recognised safety and accessibility principles.”
The works have improved pedestrian safety by adding new public lighting and facilities to make road crossings easier. The project has also seen four new sheltered bus stops installed, and five existing bus stops have been upgraded with new shelters, to support the Cork Bus Network redesign.
Cork County Council say they will continue to provide updates about the project on their website here. Cork Beo has reached out to Cork County Council for comment.