Plans for new Cork pedestrian and cycle route to proceed

CORK County Council looks set to proceed with a new pedestrian and cycle route from Bury’s Bridge, Kilcoolishal to Carrigtwohill via Glounthaune.

The scheme will be on the northern side of the L3004, or the former N25 road, and will include a pathway that’s three metres wide. A one metre landscaped separation between the path and public road will also be installed where possible.

The proposed route is circa 7.7km in length and will link to a previously granted cycleway from Bury’s bridge to the Glanmire roundabout north of the proposed Dunkettle interchange upgrade.

It’s anticipated it will bring improved connectivity to a number of areas and amenities along the route, including Carrigtwohill Business Park, Fota Business Park, Glounthaune train station, Glounthaune village, and Little Island train station as well as to a number of residential areas.

Some land acquisition, either by agreement or Compulsory Purchase Order, will be necessary to enable the project to proceed.

Some 54 submissions were made on the project during the public consultation process to Cork County Council, the majority of which were positive. However, a number of business owners raised concerns that the proposed project would have a detrimental impact on their livelihoods.

Cork Chamber highlighted that the onward connection from Carrigtwohill to Midleton would be instrumental to create a safe cycle and pedestrian corridor from Youghal to Cork. They also called for onward connectivity to Cobh and Whitegate to be planned for.

They have also called for a low rail or barrier for all sections that run immediately parallel to the road, guidance for users on the expected etiquette of passing and overtaking on the pathway as there is a mix of pedestrians and cyclists, and they asked that indigenous planting form part of the route.