[article] Roads to nowhere: Southern region being isolated from economic development

marno21

https://www.thecork.ie/2019/08/23/the-roads-to-nowhere-southern-region-being-isolated-from-economic-development/

Quite a correct article on the southern region being let down, especially in relation to the development of roads.

While we could (correctly) argue all day about the broader lack of infrastructural investment, it bears repeating once again the contribution made by the southern region to the Irish economy, and the lack of any form of investment in the area. There has been no major roads project (or any transport project) started in the southern region (Cork/Kerry/Limerick) since 2011.

Given the contribution of this area to the exchequer (Cork in particular), the returns in investment are not good enough. And the Macroom bypass isn't enough.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Come up to the North West some time and you’ll appreciate more the roads you have in your area.

Balmed Out

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Come up to the North West some time and you’ll appreciate more the roads you have in your area.

Ive driven west Cork to Donegal a good few times and would say that if you exclude the m8 (Dublin road) the roads in Donegal and everywhere else in between enroute are far superior than the roads in Cork. Dont know where in the north west you mean but if its Donegal believe me they are far better than Corks though most of my time in the county has been the southern half.

Last Stop

While it’s hard to argue with the debate in the article, this seems rather focussed on Cork city as opposed to the southern region. If Ireland is to really develop a counterbalance to Dublin then Cork/Limerick/Waterford need to be connected by motorway. That would involve the M20, M24 and M25.

Balmed Out

Last Stop wrote: »

While it’s hard to argue with the debate in the article, this seems rather focussed on Cork city as opposed to the southern region. If Ireland is to really develop a counterbalance to Dublin then Cork/Limerick/Waterford need to be connected by motorway. That would involve the M20, M24 and M25.

True, within Cork though its mad to think that driving from the tip of west Cork to Dublin at halfway point time wise your not even in east Cork.

Donegal Storm

Balmed Out wrote: »

Ive driven west Cork to Donegal a good few times and would say that if you exclude the m8 (Dublin road) the roads in Donegal and everywhere else in between enroute are far superior than the roads in Cork. Dont know where in the north west you mean but if its Donegal believe me they are far better than Corks though most of my time in the county has been the southern half.

Without wanting to start a juvenile north vs south argument, the only remotely good road in Donegal is the N15/13 through Bundoran/Donegal/Letterkenny on to Derry, every single other road in the county is sub-standard.

Cork is undoubtedly under-invested in when compared to economic output but conversely the Letterkenny/Derry/Lifford/Strabane area is I would estimate the most densely populated part of the country after Dublin, Belfast, Cork and maybe Limerick/Shannon/Ennis yet our only connections to the rest of the island are old donkey track alignments.

marno21

I don't want a massive north vs south debate but I will reaffirm these points which I have made before.

1. There is a national problem with transport underinvestment.

2. There is a particular lack of investment in the Cork area (approaches and rings) compared to the other 4 cities.

3. There are no stretches of road in Donegal that are pushing the limit for a wide SC (11.6k AADT) apart from the N14 near Lifford and the N13 dual carriageway, along with localised stretches around Letterkenny.

4. Donegal is the only county in Ireland with a well advanced plan to upgrade a large swathe of its national road network that is under pressure. There is firm plans at the minute for the N13/N15 Ballybofey/Stranorlar bypass, N14 Letterkenny-Lifford, N56 Letterkenny northern relief road, N13 Letterkenny southern approach and N13 Letterkenny-Manorcunningham dual carriageway upgrade (www.donegal-ten-t.ie). These 5 schemes when complete will remove the biggest issues on Donegal's road network.

5. Cork is a net contributor to the Irish economy and is receiving little in the way of investment, apart from private sector investment. If this is not addressed it will seriously impact Cork's ability to grow into the future.

Chris_5339762

Whats worse is that what limited addressing that is going on in Cork is being stymied at the last minute... eg: Dunkettle and M28.

Carawaystick

marno21 wrote: »

3. There are no stretches of road in Donegal that are pushing the limit for a wide SC (11.6k AADT) apart from the N14 near Lifford and the N13 dual carriageway, along with localised stretches around Letterkenny.

There are large swathes of national roads below the SC standard though

marno21

Carawaystick wrote: »

There are large swathes of national roads below the SC standard though

18km of national secondary realignment to start in Donegal between now and March (all N56).

Most other counties are struggling with 18km this decade, let alone this year (and there has been ~17km of N56 realigned in Donegal in the past 3/4 years).

In terms of national primary roads in Donegal, the main substandard section with no upgrade plan is the N15 Stranorlar-Lifford.