Work on the Duntaheen Road in Fermoy to make it safer for pedestrians and motorists will get underway shortly.

Two pedestrian crossings are to be put in place to improve safety for students going to and from Coláiste an Chraoibhín, the COPE facility and adjacent housing estates. The footpath at the school is also to be widenened as part of the works and the road raised in one section to make it level.

It’s hoped to begin the first phase of the road improvement works on Monday, October 14th. €60,000 has been allocated for this year and a similar sum is earmarked for completion of the project early next year.

The county council must finish up the first phase of the work on site mid November to comply with their funding arrangements but plan to be back on site in early 2014 to avail of the additional grant.

Local councillors Noel McCarthy and Tadhg O’Donovan made a submission regarding the footpath aspect of the works and were pleased their views were taken on board.

Mayor Olive Corcoran this week welcomed news that the work is to get underway, saying she is particularly pleased to see the measures being put in place to assist COPE service users get safely to and from their premises.