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€20m Carrigaline Western Relief Road – ‘Pottery Road’ Officially Opened

A new Relief Road designed to provide a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians has been officially opened in Carrigaline by the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Danny Collins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey.

The €20m Relief Road extends from Ballea Road to Kilmoney Road, improving connectivity and access to Carrigaline Town Centre. The main line of the relief road is 750m running parallel with Carrigaline’ s Main Street. The scheme includes a double span bridge over the Owenabue River, a 1.5km dedicated cycle track, over 3kms of footpaths and finishes at Mill Road, a 700m urban road.

The new road is partially constructed on the former site of Carrigaline Pottery, which went on to inspire its name. Following a public competition, five names were shortlisted before Elected Members of Carrigaline Municipal District selected ‘Pottery Road’ or ‘Bóthar na Potaireachta’ as the new name for the Western Relief Road.

Speaking at the Official Opening, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Danny Collins commented, “We are here today to mark a historic development for the town of Carrigaline, one which signals further growth and prosperity for the area. While we celebrate this progress, the town’s past has not been forgotten. Carrigaline was well known for its pottery for several decades. Indeed, Carrigaline Pottery was the main source of employment in the town for many years before closing in 1979. The opening today of Pottery Road brings with it a new era of growth, with safer, more sustainable travel choices for those who live and work in Carrigaline and the surrounding areas. I look forward to seeing the community enjoy all the benefits that this will bring.”

Further acknowledging the rich heritage of the area, the new bridge will be known as ‘Garrydhu Bridge’ and the road from Pottery Road to Ballea Road, adjacent to the Soccer Club will be called ‘Mill Road’.

Officially opening the new road in Carrigaline, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said, “The Western Relief Road will greatly improve safety and accessibility for the community, bringing real positive change in the daily lives of those who live and work in Carrigaline. The development has laid the foundation for new homes and community facilities in the future. It will encourage economic growth, supporting further investment and employment to the region. I look forward to seeing Carrigaline go from strength to strength in the years ahead and wish all who travel on the road a safe journey.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey added, “Carrigaline Western Relief Road will significantly reduce traffic congestion on Main Street, as well as providing a safer environment for all road users. The overall scheme was designed to also enable future development of housing units through the provision of essential services such as wastewater pumping stations and a watermain along the extent of the scheme. Active travel measures were also carefully incorporated to provide alternative travel options for those living and working in the area. The Relief Road provides the infrastructure for the ongoing development of the county’s largest town and is one of a number of exciting projects planned for Carrigaline over the coming years.”

Alasdair Henderson, Executive Director, BAM Ireland commented, “Together with design consultants Atkins, Mott MacDonald, and Barry Transportation, we are delighted to have delivered this critical piece of infrastructure at Carrigaline for Cork County Council. It has been a great pleasure to collaboratively work with all stakeholders, especially the local community, on this project. These works will greatly enhance the quality of life for the people of Carrigaline by relieving traffic congestion, reducing noise and air pollution, attracting new development, and improving the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.”

Carrigaline Western Relief Road was funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) as part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Transport Authority and Cork County Council. The project began in April 2021 and was completed on schedule with main contractors BAM. The scheme was supported by Engineering Consultancies Atkins, JB Barry and Mott McDonald.


From left: Simon Coveney TD; Padraig Barrett, Director of Service Roads and Transportation, Cork County Council; Taoiseach Micheál Martin; Cllr. Danny Collins, Mayor of the County of Cork and Tim Lucey, Chief Executive, Cork County Council; Michael McGrath TD and John Lucey, BAM, unveiling the plaque.
Pic Brian Lougheed

 

Pic Brian Lougheed

 

Pic Brian Lougheed

Carrigaline Western Relief Road – Drone Flythrough October 2022

 

Competition to Name the New Carrigaline Western Relief Road


Cllr Ben Dalton O’Sullivan; Cllr Michael Paul Murtagh; Carol Conway, Carrigaline Municipal District Officer; Mayor of The County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan; Cllr Jack White; Cllr Marcia D’Alton; and Cllr Séamus McGrath, pictured at the announcement that the new Carrigaline Western Relief Road will be named by the local community. Children attending schools in Carrigaline together with members of the public are invited to submit their proposed name, which should recognise the links to Carrigaline’s past while also considering the towns future. Entries can be submitted through Cork County Council’s online portal at www.yourcouncil.ie
Picture: Michael O’Sullivan /OSM PHOTO

Carrigaline Western Relief Road – Construction Progress Video May 2022

Description: The Carrigaline Western Relief Road scheme involves the provision of an urban relief road of 750 metres in length.

It also incorporates and completes Soccer Club Road, 690 metres in length.

The urban relief road includes the construction of a new double span bridge over the Owenboy River and 3 new signalised junctions. The roadway incorporates a cycleway and pedestrian infrastructure as a key active travel measure.

It allows for further development of lands to the west of main street, including significant housing expansion. It is the key enabler of the future development plans for Main Street, Carrigaline.

The project is funded by Cork County Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).

 

 

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Well done to all on the staff on the Carrigaline Western Relief Road site for contributing so many boxes of food donations to the Carrigaline & District Lions Club Food Appeal.