N22 Bypass Makes Way for Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Active Travel Project

Pictured at the contract signing for the Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Active Travel project with the Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Frank O'Flynn is Michael Lynch A/Divisional Manager South Cork, Cork County Council and Beren De Hora, Director, Fehily Timoney & Co along with (back row l to r) Cllr. Michael Looney, Cllr. Gobnait Moynihan, Cllr. Eileen Lynch and Cllr. Ted Lucey.

Following the recent completion of the N22 Macroom to Baile Bhuirne bypass, Cork County Council has announced a further boost for the communities of Macroom, Baile Mhic Íre, Baile Bhuirne and surrounds. Fehily Timoney and Company have been appointed as technical advisors to oversee the design of the Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Active Travel project for the development of active travel facilities along the old N22 route.

Funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the contract will oversee the preliminary stages of the project from Phase Two Options Selection to Phase Four Statutory Process. 

Welcoming the next step for the project, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn said, 

 

This scheme offers a significant opportunity to provide active travel facilities that will improve mobility and accessibility in and around Macroom, Baile Mhic Íre, Baile Bhuirne and the surrounding community. Safe facilities for walking and cycling will enable students to travel to school, increase footfall for local businesses and provide healthy ways to traverse and explore these vibrant communities rich in history and culture.

 

This initial phase of the project is estimated to take two and a half years to complete and will go through various stages such as option selection, design and environmental evaluation, public consultation and ultimately the statutory process before progressing to construction. On completion, the proposed scheme will extend from the N22 Bypass western tie-in junction, approximately 2.2km west of Baile Bhuirne to Coolcower to the east.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan, added,

The now-completed bypass has removed a significant amount of traffic from the town of Macroom and the villages of Baile Mhic Íre and Baile Bhuirne allowing these communities to flourish again. As can be seen from the earlier opening of the Macroom Bypass section, there has been an immediate reduction in air pollutants of over 50% providing a very strong start to the decarbonisation of the town, we are confident that similar benefits are to follow for Baile Mhic Íre and Baile Bhuirne. This Active Travel Plan is the next natural step to a more connected and sustainable community.

Éascaíonn Seachbhóthar N22 Tosach do Thionscadal Taistil Gníomhach Bhaile Bhuirne go Maigh Chromtha

Tar éis críochnú oibre ar sheachbhóthar N22 Maigh Chromtha go Baile Bhuirne le déanaí, tá borradh breise fógartha ag Comhairle Contae Chorcaí do phobail Mhaigh Chromtha, Bhaile Mhic Íre, Bhaile Bhuirne agus an cheantair máguaird. Tá Fehily Timoney and Company ceaptha mar chomhairleoirí teicniúla chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar dhearadh an tionscadail Taistil Gníomhach ó Bhaile Bhuirne go Maigh Chromtha chun áiseanna taistil gníomhaí a fhorbairt feadh sheanbhealaigh an N22.

Arna mhaoiniú ag Bonneagar Iompar Éireann, déanfaidh an conradh maoirseacht ar na céimeanna tosaigh den tionscadal ó Chéim a Dó  - Roghnú Roghanna, go Céim a Ceathair - Próiseas Reachtúil.

Ag fáiltiú roimh an gcéad chéim eile don tionscadal, dúirt Méara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr. Frank O’Flynn an méid seo, 

Cuireann an scéim seo deis shuntasach le háiseanna taistil gníomhaí a chur ar fáil a fheabhsóidh soghluaisteacht agus inrochtaineacht i Maigh Chromtha, Baile Mhic Íre, Baile Bhuirne agus an pobal máguaird. Cuirfidh áiseanna siúlóide agus rothaíochta sábháilte ar chumas na mac léinn taisteal chun na scoile, méadú ar líon na ndaoine a théann go gnóthaí áitiúla, agus cuirfear bealaí sláintiúla ar fáil chun na pobail bheoga seo a bhfuil saibhreas staire agus cultúir acu, a chuairtiú.

Meastar go dtógfaidh an chéim thosaigh seo den tionscadal dhá bhliain go leith le críochnú agus rachaidh sé trí chéimeanna éagsúla cosúil le roghnú roghanna, dearadh agus measúnú comhshaoil, comhairliúchán poiblí agus ar deireadh leis an bpróiseas reachtúil sula gcuirfear ar aghaidh é chuig an tógáil. Nuair a bheidh an scéim bheartaithe críochnaithe, rachaidh sí ó acomhal an iarthair ar sheachbhóthar an N22, thart ar 2.2km siar ó Bhaile Bhuirne go Cúil Chomhair san oirthear.

Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí, Valerie O’Sullivan,

Bhain an seachbhóthar críochnaithe méid suntasach tráchta as baile Mhaigh Chromtha agus sráidbhailte Bhaile Mhic Íre agus Bhaile Bhuirne, rud a ligeann do na pobail seo borradh arís. Mar is léir ón oscailt níos luaithe ar Sheachbhóthar Mhaigh Chromtha, tá laghdú láithreach de os cionn 50% tagtha ar thruailleáin aeir, rud a chuir tús ana-láidir le dícharbónú an bhaile, táimid muiníneach go mbeidh buntáistí cosúla ann do Bhaile Mhic Íre agus Baile Bhuirne. Is é an Plean Taistil Gníomhach seo an chéad chéim nádúrtha eile do phobal atá níos nasctha agus níos inbhuanaithe.