30 November 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The anticipated conclusion by Cork County Council of a feasibility study of an N25 relief road around Castlemartyr has been welcomed by Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, David Stanton. Cork County Council (CCC) have received funding from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to carry out the study which TII expect to be completed by next month, December 2019.
“Cork County Council has received funding to carry out a feasibility study which will examine a short to medium term relief road, for N25 through traffic, around Castlemartyr village. I understand from TII that the study will examine the constraints that need to be considered in planning for such a relief road, such as whether an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) is likely to be necessary”, said Minister Stanton.
The feasibility study, once completed, will outline a number of possible options for a relief road for Castlemartyr. Once the feasibility study is received from CCC it will be examined by TII who will then make a decision on which option, if any, is viable and can be progressed. It is hoped that any relief road project will be under 5km which would constitute a ‘minor improvement scheme’. This would allow the project to be progressed by TII without a need to be included in the National Development Plan 2018-2027.
Minister Stanton concluded: “I am hopeful that this feasibility study will be completed by the end of the year as planned. TII have advised that the study should also provide the basis for a brief for technical advisors who could then, hopefully, be appointed by CCC next year. Castlemartyr village has seen a large increase in traffic volumes in recent years and suffers severe congestion in the mornings and evenings. A short relief road around the village should greatly reduce traffic problems and improve road safety.”
