13 February 2019
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Peter Horgan (Labour)
Labour Cork City Council Candidate Peter Horgan has again called on Ministers Shane Ross and Charlie Flanagan to initiate Operation Freeflow in Cork in order to avoid the city and surrounding roads becoming like Dublin.
“The report from Inrix today shows once again the issues affecting Dublin traffic, however, it doesn’t examine cities like Cork which are gridlocked also,” said Mr Horgan.
“The introduction of Operation Free flow as a year-round project is needed for the sake of the city centre and estates in the suburbs subjected to daily rat runs by commuters seeking make it to work. It would allow safer traffic flows for all users – motorists, cyclists and walking commuters. There have been few efforts to manage the growing traffic volumes, and ensure the rules of the road are being observed in the Jack Lynch Tunnel, on the South Link and the North Ring..”
“We can’t allow the city to continue to grind to a halt on a daily and hourly basis in the morning and evening. Let’s be proactive and get things moving. Operation Freeflow in Cork would also benefit public transport and increase confidence in its use. the more confidence we have in public transport – the more users. Simples.”
Operation Freeflow was first introduced by the then Minister for Environment Brendan Howlin in December 1996 and the key objective was to ensure that traffic laws were enforced such as keeping junctions, bus lanes and yellow boxes clear.
The Government and relevant authorities including An Garda Síochána and Cork City & County Councils should now act to ensure there is a robust plan in place,” stressed Mr Horgan.
