'We have waited too long': Calls for proposed Cork infrastructure projects to be fast-tracked

A CORK councillor has called for key transport projects in the city to be expedited following confirmation that the Government is to advance construction of the Adare Bypass with the aim of having it completed ahead of the Ryder Cup in 2027.

The major golf competition will be held at Adare Manor in September 2027 and, if delivered, the bypass could assist traffic management during this busy period.

The 7km bypass is one element of the Limerick to Foynes Project — a 33km road connecting Limerick to the port of Foynes.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said every effort will be made to facilitate the early delivery of the bypass ahead of the Ryder Cup.

“Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) will be working closely with Limerick City and County Council and other agencies and stakeholders and, together, will do everything they can to open the bypass in line with this timeline,” he said.

Speaking following this update, Labour Party councillor for Cork city’s North East ward John Maher said a similar sense of urgency should be applied to major transport projects for Cork city, in particular the light rail system and the Northern Distributor Road.

“While the Minister is in the mood for fast-tracking projects, he could ensure that Cork city, the second city in the Republic, has a light rail system before 2040.

“Communities across Cork’s northside are crying out for the Northern Distributor Road which will take thousands of HGVs out of communities, make the roads safer for local residents and improve public transport times,” Mr Maher told The Echo.

“We have waited far too long for this and now is the time to start these projects.”

The proposed delivery of a new Light Rail Transit (LRT) tram system for Cork city and the Northern Distributor Road are two projects contained within the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) which sets out a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services to support the Cork Metropolitan Area’s development in the period up to 2040.

'SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVE'

The Northern Distributor Road (NDR) has been described as “a short-term objective” in the plan, which was developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

The road would provide for orbital movement for bus, pedestrian, cycle and some strategic and general traffic and reduce reliance on radial routes through the city centre.

CMATS proposes that the NDR would provide connectivity at its western end to join the existing N22.

No definitive timeline is stated in CMATS for the delivery of Cork’s proposed Luas either.

The plan said the light rail scheme is “planned for delivery, subject to the necessary development consolidation, to support the appraisal, planning and design for provision of such a high capacity corridor in the latter period of the period of the strategy as envisaged by the NDP”.

It adds that the LRT “should be delivered earlier should it become apparent that the appropriate development densities will be achieved sooner than anticipated”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said the Government is “committed to improving public transport options in Cork over the coming years”.

The spokesperson cited a number of planned improvements to public transport in Cork, including the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme which they said “represents the largest investment in the rail network in Cork undertaken by the State”.

As part of this, they said the frequency of a number of rail services in the Cork Metropolitan Area were doubled in July 2022 and that other elements of the programme are progressing.

In relation to the Cork Luas project specifically, the spokesperson said work on identifying a precise route “is progressing well”.

The emerging preferred route (EPR) is expected to be published in the new year following previous delays to its publication.

Regarding the NDR, the spokesperson said that, in line with the Public Spending Code (PSC), Cork City Council prepared a Strategic Assessment Report for the project and submitted this report last year for formal review.