Pedestrian crossings across Cork's northside are to be surveyed

CITY Hall is to carry out a survey of signalised pedestrian crossings on the northside after concerns for blind people, children and the elderly were raised.

Councillor Ted Tynan of the Workers’ Party said he fears pedestrians are at risk when there are not clear audible and visual signals working in tandem to alert both drivers and pedestrians of potential hazards.

Cork City Council director of operations Valerie O’Sullivan said the local authority will now carry out a pushbutton survey at the North Ring Road / Balleyhooley Road, Colmcille Avenue close to Mayfield Garda Station and the pedestrian light outside Our Lady Crowned Credit Union.

Tinkers Cross junction with Old Youghal Road and North Ring Road will also be checked.

The survey will identify any difference from best practice in the operation in audio and pedestrian pushbutton operation crossings.

Mr Tynan said: “It is now several decades since audible alerts were first fitted at pedestrian crossings in Cork city. They are the norm in the city centre and are widely fitted on the southside of the city but many of those in the Ballyvolane and Mayfield areas are not up to scratch and are barely audible or completely mute,” he said.

“We need high pitch audibles to cover the noise of the traffic. Pedestrians and, especially vulnerable pedestrians, need to be protected and currently, with the levels of traffic, the measures at pedestrian crossing on the northside are just not adequate.

“At Tinker’s Cross, down by Old Lady Crowned Chuch near the Fob and Gill, there is a very busy junction with huge volumes of traffic and there are no proper audible crossings by that junction.

“This is very, very serious and needs to be addressed,” he added.

Cork City Council is currently carrying out or has planning in place for a number of road improvement and junction improvement schemes across the city.

The council has also carried out a number of schemes to improve lighting at busy junctions in the city centre.

Mr Tynan believes lights and audible signals at all junctions that contain pedestrian crossings across the city need to be checked regularly.