No funding to fix ‘terrifying and dangerous’ traffic on North Ring Rd

There is no funding available to improve safety for people living near the North Ring Rd, Cork City Council has said.

Workers Party councillor Jerrica Struthers asked the council to urgently implement traffic safety measures on the North Ring Rd, when she addressed the most recent local area committee meeting for the Cork city north-east ward.

She called for yellow junction boxes at all estate entrances, a safe pedestrian crossing between the Ballinderry Park/Corrib Lawn and Gweedore Avenue/Liffey Park entrances, and widening of the narrow footpath on the residential/pedestrian side of the road.

“The situation on the North Ring Rd is terrifying and dangerous for residents,” she said.

“Every single day, families are trapped inside their own estates by gridlock, forced to take risky manoeuvres just to pull out onto the road. Crossing the street is a nightmare.

“Children and elderly residents are forced to dodge heavy traffic just to get across. Furthermore, the footpath on the residential side of the road is dangerously narrow, making it impossible for strollers, wheelchairs, and general pedestrian traffic to pass safely.

“We cannot wait for a fatal accident to happen. These families deserve to be safe in their own neighbourhood.”

A council spokesperson said that there were long term plans to address these issues, but did not provide any timelines.

“The NTA-funded Glen to Mayfield walking and cycling scheme plans to deliver a continuous high-quality safe route for pedestrians and cyclists between the N20 in Blackpool, and Mayfield terminating at Tinker’s Cross,” they said.

This project includes the provision of new pedestrian and cycle facilities, the upgrading of pedestrian and cycle facilities, and more.

However, it has been in progress for over five years, and is still in the design phase. The spokesperson told Ms Struthers: “The project will consider treatments to estate roads including the provision of potential pedestrian/toucan crossings to provide safer movements to cross the North Ring Rd but also in accessing/egressing the North Ring Rd.

“The provision of these crossings will also help to reduce vehicle speeds and create opportunities for residents to safely enter or leave their estates. The work outlined above will require significant funding hence a comprehensive project of this type can only progress when external funding is provided.”

Ms Struthers told The Echo after the meeting that the response from the council was “not good enough”, and that she will continue to raise the issues until they are addressed.

“The main issue seems to be funding for widening the footpath so I’m contemplating amending the motion to just have the pedestrian crossing put in for the time being.

“That road is so dangerous that something needs to be done sooner rather than later,” she said.