Cork city pedestrian, cycling, and junction works get the go-ahead

A CORK City Council scheme to provide “high-quality pedestrian, cycling, and junction improvement works” on the northside of the city has been approved.

At a meeting of Cork City Council on Monday, councillors green-lit works proposed for Cattle Market Avenue, Glen Ryan Rd, St Theresa’s Rd, and Mary Aikenhead Place.

Key elements of the scheme include new and widened footpaths to provide a continuous walkway, public-realm upgrades in the Glen Ryan and Cattle Market area, and traffic calming to establish mixed traffic streets with improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Realignments and improvements at the junctions of Fair St, Wolfe Tone St, Old Market Place, Nicholas Well Lane, Upper Cattle Market St, Boyce’s St, and Ballymacthomas St are also included as part of the Glen Ryan and Cattle Market Area Active Travel Improvement Works Scheme.

Cork City Council also intends to change the speed limit to 30km/hr on Cattle Market Ave and Glen Ryan Rd.

New, uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, new public street lighting, and new road markings and signage are also included in the scheme.

The proposed works went to public consultation in December, with a report to councillors at the meeting on Monday stating that 11 submissions were received.

The report said that many of the submissions welcomed the proposed improvements to the pedestrian environment, while some concerns were raised over the implications for traffic and parking.

“Six of the eleven submissions (including a petition with 30 signatures) related specifically to issues concerning Fair St and requesting that it be made one-way.

“The issue is outside the area and scope of the current proposal, but this request will be forwarded to the relevant section for further consideration,” it added.

Following the public consultation, some suggested amendments will be incorporated into the final design, the report said.

Additional street furniture will be included at the Shandon St/ Cattle Market Avenue junction area and Ballymacthomas St/Glen Ryan Rd area “to prevent parking on the pavement in these areas”.

The proposed road alignment has also been locally adjusted “in several areas to minimise the impact of the scheme on the parking and to maintain as many spaces as possible”, the report said.

The amended scheme was approved by councillors at the latest council meeting.