Pedestrian and cycle path connecting to greenway along Carr’s Hill to open

Cork City Council has said that a pedestrian and cycle path connecting to a city greenway along Carr’s Hill is due to open next week.

Construction work on the path, which is part of the Ballybrack Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme, began in 2023.

The route is a three-way project between Cork City Council, Cairn Homes, and the Department of Education, and is located to the rear of the Douglas-Rochestown Educate Together National School.

The walkway is intended to provide a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists accessing the greenway and will also give access to the school via a connecting bridge.

Speaking to The Echo, concerned parent Ciarán Hegarty, whose two sons attend Douglas-Rochestown Educate Together National School, said that he and his wife have been “incredibly stressed” waiting for the pathway to open, and that they have been forced to walk with their children along a busy and dangerous road since the school’s opening.

“There’s only one footpath on [Carr’s Hill] and in places it’s very narrow, you can barely walk two abreast, and if there are cars coming in both directions, or a bus or truck comes, vehicles come very close to the path and sometimes wing mirrors over hang,” he said.

Mr Hegarty claimed that just after summer last year, the path “looked complete, but it still wasn’t opening”.

“It’s great to hear that they have committed to a date, and I’m grateful that nobody has gotten hurt, but I’ll believe it when I see it — I just don’t understand how it took so long,” he said.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council confirmed that all stakeholders involved in the project are “working to deliver the Ballybrack Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme, which aims to provide improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians along the greenway route and [have] been liaising [with] all concerned parties to this end.

“It is intended to open this section of the Ballybrack Pedestrian and Cycle Track for use by school-goers during the week beginning January 13, subject to agreement by all parties involved,” the spokesperson added.