Snails to delay road building

KERRY slugs and Cork landowners could together slow the progress of a major new road project in the north of the county to a snail’s pace.
Yesterday, revised plans for the N22 between Ballincollig and Ballyvorney were unveiled in Macroom Town Hall.
However, its progress depends on the results of an environmental assessment of the threat the projects poses to the protected species of snail in Ballyvourney.
Senior executive engineer with the National Roads Authority Bob O’Shea said he expects a final habitat study on the Kerry Slug species within a fortnight.
“It would be wrong of me to comment at this stage. We will wait and see what the report says,” he said.
If the snail is considered safe Cork County Council will then have to begin negotiating land values with a string of property owners along the new 22km route.
The revised drawings include two new flyovers to allow more accessible feeder routes for rural communities. And, due to a change in NRA policy, the road will now be built with two lanes in either direction.
This is designed to cater for 17,000 cars a day at the city side of the route with the ability to absorb expected population increases beyond Macroom.
Local TD Donal Moynihan said getting the road built quickly to free up towns like Mallow had to be prioritised ahead of concerns for the snail.
“You can go so far to protect the environment and I fully support that but there are limits and that includes people’s right to safety,” he said.
Conor Ryan
© Irish Examiner