Long-awaited change to Cork road will be 'game-changer' for community 

THE long-awaited roundabout on the busy Mallow to Millstreet N72 road, which will be officially opened on Friday, will be a ‘game changer in terms of safety and accessibility’ for the people of Duhallow in north Cork, the chair of the northern committee of Cork County Council has said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Bernard Moynihan has described the €5m upgrade of the Ballymacquirke Cross junction as a vital link for people from Duhallow to commute to and from work in Cork city, and said it would save lives and help business and tourism in the region.

The junction at the intersection of the Mallow to Millstreet/Killarney road and the route between Kanturk and Banteer has been the scene of numerous accidents over the years and was listed as being among the most dangerous in Cork by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Work began on transforming Ballymacquirke Cross into a roundabout at the end of February and the contractors, Sorensens, has finished the project ahead of schedule - the first quarter of the New Year had been the original completion date.

It is now scheduled to be opened on Friday, and the ribbon will be cut by Cllr Moynihan himself wearing his hat as chair of the council's northern committee.   

“Four years ago I delivered a petition with more than 3,000 signatures to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan about Ballymacquirke, a notorious accident black spot," said Mr Moynihan.

"I'm now delighted that the work has come to fruition and the roundabout is in place to provide years of safe connectivity between Duhallow and Cork for generations to come," he added.