'It’s an incredible project': A walking and cycling greenway from the River Lee to the sea

CORK'S two local authorities have been urged to connect the dots and provide a cycling and pedestrian greenway all the way from Inniscarra to Ringaskiddy.

A campaign for the ‘Lee to Sea’ greenway was started earlier this year by Cork Cycling Campaign, proposing the creation of a greenway from the Inniscarra Dam as far as Crosshaven alongside the River Lee and Cork Harbour.

Proposals from the Cork Cycling Campaign were presented to City Hall last May and councillor Kieran McCarthy (IND) wants to see it progressed to the early planning stages.

“It’s an incredible project,” said Mr McCarthy.

“People would be able to cycle from the Inniscarra reservoir, through Ballincollig regional park on to the straight road, the Mardyke and out onto the docklands, the Marina, the railway line, the Douglas estuary, Rochestown, Passage and beyond to Ringaskiddy. It’s a win-win and would send out a really strong message to other cities.”

Henry Cremin (SF) said the benefits of the infrastructure are too good to ignore.

“There are huge benefits for us in relation to trying to create this.

“The benefits are there for everybody in health, the environment, in business and traffic — everything.

“It would allow people to walk and cycle at ease and not be fearful of traffic.

“We need to take it on board, with amendments, if needed. The city is clogged up at the moment with traffic.

“A lot of the structure is there, but it has to be developed. There’s a section on Carrigrohane Road that goes all the way to Curraheen Road, from Sarsfield Road to Togher Road, another section from Togher across Ballyphehane, and ties in with Tramore Valley Park. It would be very easy to tie in with the Douglas to Monkstown one also.

“All that structure is there, we just need to connect it. It has to be kept on the agenda,” he added.

City Hall director of roads and transport Gerry O’Beirne said the city council has been “very supportive” of the concept, as has the county council.

“It is included in our policies and it’s included in our economic strategy and the draft Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy draft document that we expect will be adopted shortly by the National Transport Authority.

“It’s important to note that the council has adopted two very important schemes, the Docklands junction scheme, and the upgrade of the Marina out to Mahon.”

He added that future projects will include cycling facilities on the north quays and facilities along Monahan Road.