Mallow Bypass Road – Unblock Mallow’s Heart

Mallow Representative Group (MRG) which includes community, business and statutory representatives, welcomes the decision of Cork County Council to recommend to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) that the relief road be proceeded with to the next stage as a stand-alone project.

This is a very significant step forward in the long running campaign to have this road constructed.

In early 2015 the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaking at the Dairygold Investment Launch, proposed that an independent economic study into the feasibility of such a project be carried out.

Following a major consultative process in which all stakeholders such as hauliers, business, farming, community and statutory groups participated, the Indecon Economic Study was presented to the then Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe in mid-2015.

Subsequently, the Mallow bypass project was included in the government’s Capital Spending Programme 2016-2021 and funding was allocated for a feasibility study and pre-appraisal plan, which has now been completed by Cork County Council being the road authority for the area.

Throughout this period political members at national and local level were unanimous in their support for the bypass which is the best option to solve Mallow Towns long standing traffic congestion, while allowing the heavier east/west traffic to bypass the narrow streets of the town.

In addition, representations were continued to be made by Mallow Representative Group to Paschal Donohoe the now Minister for Finance, and also the current Minister for Transport Shane Ross.

A continuation of the unified campaign by all business, community, statutory and political groups is essential now if the next important step towards the design and planning stage is to be achieved.

The people of Mallow can begin to hope that finally the day may not be far off when their town is opened up once again to its growing population, that the main street can be rejuvenated, and that there may be the opportunity for some badly needed jobs for the young and not so young.

Mallow Representative Group is made up of representatives of Mallow Development Partnership, Mallow Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Business and Cork County Council.