Public confidence in the N20 Charleville Transport Project has been seriously undermined, following the recent public consultation events held in late November, according to Charleville Community Forum. A spokesperson for the group has claimed that “any who attended were alarmed by proposals that included the possible introduction of one-way traffic systems through Charleville town”.
“With more than 15,000 vehicles passing through the town every day, such measures bear little relation to the scale of congestion or the safety risks faced by residents, pedestrians and businesses,” the spokes-person added. “Charle-ville’s main street has a tragic history of pedestrian fatalities. In that context, the suggestion that traffic ‘experiments’ might substitute for a bypass has been viewed as deeply disconnected from reality, where lives have been lost, trial and error solutions are simply not acceptable.
“Pressure on the local road network is also set to intensify. Planning documentation for the Gurrane Green Energy project near the Charle-ville–Limerick border confirms that more than 8,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) movements will occur during its con-struction phase. On peak concrete pour days, up to 120 HGVs are scheduled to travel between 6am and 8pm.
“This additional burden comes on top of existing freight traffic associated with the expansion of Cork Port, alongside expected national traffic increases linked to major inter-national events, including the Ryder Cup in 2027.
“Cork County Council have plans for a housing development at a junction of a road, already impacted by traffic congestion. Taken together, these developments raise serious concerns regarding road safety, air quality, public health and quality of life.
“Concerns that are not adequately addressed within the current pro-posals. Managing more traffic through the town centre will not resolve a structural problem created by decades of under-investment.
“Equally troubling is the lack of visible, sustained advocacy from public representatives on behalf of Charleville. Other towns have secured bypasses because their represent-atives consistently pressed the case. Charleville residents are increasingly asking why their town appears to be treated differently.
“We are simply asking for the same level of infra-structure that has already been delivered in other towns,  that do not endure daily heavy goods traffic through their centres or carry Charleville’s history of road fatalities.
“A bypass for Charleville is not an optional extra; it is a safety necessity. It is the only effective way to reduce collision risk, protect vulnerable road users, improve air quality and allow the town to function as a safe and liveable place.
“The public consultation process is now at a critical point. The deadline for route preference sub-missions is Tuesday next, 16th December. Submissions can be made online via the official project website, www.charlevilletp.ie or email charlevillertp@corkdo.ie where members of the public can indicate their preferred route option. A submission need not be lengthy, ten minutes to register a clear preference can influence whether this project is treated with the urgency it deserves.
“Incremental traffic measures cannot substitute for decisive infrastructure investment. Charleville does not need a traffic experiment. It needs a bypass,” the statement concluded.