Busy West Cork village facing decade long wait for bypass
Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan said the need for the Innishannon bypass had become more pressing following changes to bus stops in the village.
Motorists face a decade-long wait for construction of an Innishannon bypass, even if funding continues through planning, design and construction, councillors have been told.
That was the timeframe outlined by Cork County Council’s director of services for roads and transportation Pádraig Barrett, as members pressed for progress on the congested N71 route.
Mr Barrett told the Western Division committee that a project of this scale, at its current stage, would take roughly 10 years to reach construction, provided it secured continued funding and passed through the necessary approvals.
A project outline document has been completed and submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for review and approval. Mr Barrett said the council would seek further funding for 2027 to progress feasibility and options work.
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Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan said the need for a bypass had become more pressing following changes to bus stops in the village.
She said buses stopping near the traffic lights were contributing to lengthy queues.
Her party colleague, councillor John Michael Foley, questioned the positioning of stops directly opposite each other and close to the lights.
Mr Foley said the situation reinforced the need for a bypass. He highlighted the importance of both the Innishannon and Bandon schemes to future housing and business development across West Cork.
Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury called for an increased allocation to move the Innishannon project forward. She said she would raise the need for further funding with the Government and local ministers.
Responding to concerns about the bus stops, Mr Barrett said they had been upgraded at their existing locations. He said attempts to relocate stops often met objections, while stops needed to remain accessible to pedestrians in town and village centres.
Mr Barrett acknowledged that opposing stops could cause frustration when buses arrived at the same time. He said Innishannon needed an upgrade of its wider pedestrian environment.
The council’s roads report lists a €100,000 allocation for the bypass project in 2026.
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