The Cork town of Mitchelstown looks set to be bypassed twice to prevent an escalation of its traffic problems, a hearing on the proposed N8 Fermoy to Mitchelstown road at Mallow Park Hotel heard yesterday.
Speaking on behalf of Cork County Council, senior counsel David Holland said Mitchelstown would be bypassed; firstly by a relief road to the west already under construction and secondly by the proposed N8 road from Fermoy to Mitchelstown under consideration at yesterday's hearing.
"The proposed N8 would not, by itself, sufficiently remove through traffic from the town. The relief road to the west performs this function and also facilitates HGV traffic into the town itself.
"Neither would the relief road itself suffice. It will, in the short-term, remove all through traffic from the town. However, as a complete solution it is insufficient. It lacks capacity to absorb all through traffic levels save in the short term.
"They [the two roads] were designed as a package - each complementing the other. The proposed road will constitute the major bypass of Mitchelstown - at present a traffic bottleneck."
The oral hearing heard yesterday that to construct the road Cork County Council proposes to compulsorily acquire 192.088 hectares . Some 134 landowners, including 49 farms, will be affected to varying degrees if the road is given the green light.
Mr Holland estimated the total cost of the scheme at €148 million, including cost of a design and build contract. Assuming approval by An Bord Pleanála, work will start on the road next year, with a completion date in 2009.
It will complement the relief road to the west which is expected to facilitate traffic on the Mallow, Killarney and Limerick route, while also allowing for HGV traffic into Mitchelstown itself.
Meanwhile, Cork County Council senior engineer Kieran McKeone said the national roads study of 1988 identified the need to upgrade to dual-carriageway standard the existing N8 from Fermoy to Mitchelstown and Mitchelstown bypass.
The National Development Plan 2000 to 2006 also identified the N8 as a core route.
Mr McKeone said three routes were considered for the new Fermoy to Mitchelstown road before a final decision was made. A route to the east of Mitchelstown was chosen as it included a relief road to the west as an integral part of the route.
Construction of the relief road began last June. It is scheduled to open in June/July.
The hearing continues today, with further outlines from the council.
Objectors to the project will be heard this afternoon or tomorrow. The hearing is expected to take three days.