Courthouse
 

2nd January 2003

Re: VISUAL BARRIER AT THE SOUTH RING ROAD

1 refer to the following motion which was referred to the Roads & Transportation Functional Committee by Council:

'Further to my Motion011/151 which asked 'That this Council sensitive to the needs of people who have difficulty with heights, agree to screen that portion of the South Ring Road, travelling east to west that overlooks the Douglas Shopping Centre, in the interests of personal and road traffic safety'

The Report of the City Engineer dated 5"' July 2001 stated 'The existing barrier on this section of the South Ring Road is sufficient to cater for traffic or pedestrian safety in this area. The provision of a visual barrier will be investigated further'.

1 now request the Manager to bring before Council results of the said investigation with updated thinking in the context of a lengthy visual barrier erected at the opposite side of this carriageway'.

(Proposer: Comhairleoir B. Bermingham 02/245)

Noise barriers have been erected on the Cork City side of the South Ring Road (N25). The purpose of these noise barriers is to reduce noise levels from the South Ring Road (N25) to those residential properties on the Cork City side of this road. Douglas Shopping Centre is situated on the other side of the South Ring Road (N25) at Douglas. Noise is not a factor here and indeed Douglas Shopping Centre, like all other commercial centres, seeks to be as visible as possible from the public road.

The height of the embankment of the South Ring Road (N25) as it passes through Douglas is approximately seven metres. This is the same as most bridges in this country. The edge of the road is protected by a parapet railing, in filled with a light mesh to prevent debris from falling onto the car park alongside. The cost of erecting noise barriers is very expensive and the National Roads Authority will only fund these barriers where there is sufficient warrant for them. The embankment at Douglas is no different or less safe than the embankment at Dunkettle or even Youghal Bridge over the Blackwater or similar embankments on the M50 in Dublin. It could be further argued that a barrier at this particular location would prevent the sun from melting any potential ice spots that may occur on the said embankment. Accordingly 1 do not recommend the erection of such a visual barrier.

1 recommend that the Roads & Transportation Functional Committee consider this report and refer to Council for approval.

City of Cork draft Development Plan 2003

Cork area Strategic Plan CASP

Cork as a Gateway
River Transportation

Student Accommodation

Housing

Green spaces