All About Cork: Preferred route for Northern Distributor Road in progress

Labour Party councillor John Maher asked the chief executive of Cork City Council for a comprehensive update on the progress of the Northern Distributor Road at the most recent city council meeting.

The road is expected to significantly reduce traffic through Mayfield.

Recent analysis of the best performing options for the road led to the identification of an emerging preferred corridor, and NTA approval in December 2024 enabled the process of finalising the preferred route.

The executive explained: “The project team is currently finalising the relevant drawings and will be holding a detailed briefing for elected members in advance of a non-statutory public consultation on the emerging preferred route.

“It is anticipated that this consultation process will commence next month and will be supported by a number of public open days, dedicated website, brochures/drawings and other documents as well as presentations by and meetings with the project team with opportunities for questions and discussion,” the executive said.

They explained that while the consultation process is non-statutory, meaning the plan does not have to be adopted by the council members, the executive explained “it is an important step in the development of the scheme and will assist in securing insights/ knowledge/ expertise from individuals, communities, and other stakeholders”.

“This supports improved decision-making and the refinement of plans leading to the confirmation of the preferred route for the scheme.

“Following confirmation of the preferred route, the council will procure a design team to prepare the preliminary designs and in due course a planning application for the scheme.

“This appointment is likely to occur in Q3 2025 and members will be further updated on timelines at that stage.”

They added that the initial cost estimate for the project will be confirmed following completion of the preliminary design process and further updated as detailed designs are developed.

“The project has been funded to date by the NTA and it is anticipated that continued funding will be made available in 2025 for the preparation of preliminary designs,” they said.

Glenamoy Lawn meeting

The residents of Glenamoy Lawn are invited to a meeting this week that is free and open to the public.

Patricia Cotter, development worker at Cork City Partnership, has organised a meeting in the Community House at 79 Glenamoy Lawn on Wednesday, January 22, at 11am, to discuss future planning for the community area and garden at the back of the complex.

Cork City Partnership is a not-for-profit organisation that has been contracted to deliver the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme in Cork city until 2028.

The outreach office in Mayfield is approaching its one year anniversary, having opened in early February 2024.

It aims to support both families and organisations in the community.

For more information, text or email Patricia Cotter at 087-1902848 or email
pcotter@partnershipcork.ie.

Basketball blitz a huge success

The Mayfield Garda basketball blitz took place in Neptune stadium on Friday, January 10.

This was the 11th year of the popular event and 12 boys primary schools took part: St Columbas, Gael Scoil Douglas, Scoil Iosagain, St Anthony’s, Beaumont boys, North Mon, Spioriad Naoimh, Blarney St CBS, St Patrick’s, Scoil Mhuire agus Eoin, Upper Glanmire and Blarney.

North Mon met Upper Glanmire in the final of the shield while St Anthony’s met their near neighbours, Beaumont boys, in the final of the cup.

A Garda spokesperson said: “In two very competitive matches North Mon emerged victorious in the shield while a very good St Anthony’s side overcame Beaumont boys in a closely contested cup final.”

The two MVPs were North Mon’s Calvin O’Driscoll in the shield competition and Seth Coughlan from St Anthony’s in the cup.

The organisers thanked Neptune stadium, O’Reillys Blackpool and Johnson & Johnson for their continued support.

York Hill safety measures

Measures to ease traffic congestion and improve safety on York Hill were discussed at last week’s Cork City Council meeting.

Fine Gael councillor Joe Kavanagh had asked at the meeting if a previous motion of his could be expedited “as a matter of urgency and public safety”. 

He had proposed that York Hill, which connects the lower part of Summerhill to Wellington Road, be made a one-way traffic flow system, running from Summerhill upwards to Wellington Road only.

Mr Kavanagh explained: “I’m asking for the immediate introduction of this measure (even on a short term trial basis, if necessary), which would certainly contribute positively in some way to easing the considerably congested traffic flow, which is currently being experienced by so many frustrated commuters travelling on the Ballyhooly Road, through Dillon’s Cross, through St Luke’s Cross and down Summerhill North into the city at all times of every day.”

The council executive told Mr Kavanagh: “In the medium to long term, the BusConnects proposal will be to install filtered permeability on York Hill along with other wider traffic measures in the area based on the traffic modelling carried out for that project.

“Cork City Council in conjunction with the NTA BusConnects Team will bring forward an intervention for filtered permeability on York Hill in advance of the overall BusConnects plan for consideration. The mechanism for same is to be agreed between the relevant parties for consideration through the Section 38 process, including public consultation.”

Glanmire uniform sale

Any parent whose child has grown out of Glanmire Community College uniform items is asked to donate them to the school so they can be resold at a reduced price to other children. A box where you can drop the items is located outside the school. These uniform items will be offered for sale to parents with all proceeds going to the Parents’ Council fund.

Next Saturday, the school will hold a uniform bank sale between 10.30am and 11.30am, with all parents welcome to attend.

€28m active travel funding

Cork City Council has been allocated €28m for 2025 under the National Transport Authority Active Travel Investment grants scheme. The funding includes 15 projects in the North East Ward, Labour councillor John Maher said.

It includes €800,000 for the Glanmire to Riverstown Greenway, €600,000 for the Northern Distributor Road route select, €700,000 for the Glanmire to City Active Travel Scheme Phase 1 and €250,000 for The Glen & North Ring Road Environs Sustainable Transport Scheme.

Also included are: Kilcully & Upper Glanmire Pedestrian Scheme, allocated €300,000, Banduff Road Scheme €100,000, Wellington Road Active Travel Scheme €25,000, Glanmire to City Centre Phase 2 €750,000, Upgrade to Dunkettle Road €1,715,000, Cooney’s Lane Pedestrian Scheme €50,000, Hazelwood Road junction upgrade €350,000, Cork North Docks public realm/transport infrastructure €50,000.

Three Safe Routes to School projects will also receive funding: St Luke’s NS has been allocated €341,965, Glanmire CC €364,499 and St Joseph’s-Riverstown €399,511.

Have Mayfield news to share? Contact amy.campbell@theecho.ie