A €3 million investment will pave the way for a 3km footpath in Ballylickey.
Finola O'Riordan, a senior executive engineer with Cork County Council, told members of the Western Division that the first phase of the project will go to tender in the coming weeks.
She said the Cork National Roads Office project will be done in two stages.
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This year, phase one will go from the Seaview House Hotel to a point 1.5km east towards Bantry will be completed.
And phase two from Snave to the speed limit at Cronin’s Service Station will be done in 2027.
That leaves a busy mid-section that will require separate road safety improvement works.
The engineer said this will require TII approval and funding, but the plan is to do the work in conjunction with phase two of the footpath improvement works in 2027.
Cllr Danny Collins (Ind Ire) tabled a motion requesting that the footpath design be shown to the council members before construction commences.
He pointed out that the safety measures are most needed in the vicinity of Cronin's Service Station and the entrance to the popular Eagle Point caravan and camping grounds, both of which are a hive of activity during the summer months.
The Independent Ireland councillor asked the local authority engineers to bear in mind that many cars are always parked on the roadway, near Ballylickey Bridge.
He said builders from Bantry and Beara park there early in the morning before being transported to work sites in the city, and the Ouvane Falls is also a very busy venue, especially at weekends.
Cllr Collins, Cllr Finbarr Harington (Ind) and Cllr George Gill (FF) also welcomed the fact that €375,000 has been allocated to improve Bantry's Derryduff Bridge.
Roads director, Mark O'Sullivan, confirmed that a contractor has been appointed and that site clearance works have commenced.
In the meantime, he said a pre-cast culvert is being manufactured as part of this bridge rehabilitation scheme.
