Cork public urged to share their views on proposed new 14km northside road

Fri, 28 Feb, 2025 - 10:40

Donal O’Keeffe

The proposed new Cork northern distributor road is not expected to be completed until the middle of the next decade, with its emerging preferred route now going to non-statutory public consultation.

The proposed 14km road, running from the Carrigrohane Rd, west of the city, to Glanmire in the east, crossing the northside via Hollyhill, Dublin Hill, and Banduff, is expected to cost several hundred million euro.

Providing a strategic orbital transport corridor around the northside of Cork city, the new road will be approximately 30m in width and consist of bus lanes, cycle lanes, footpaths, and traffic lanes in either direction.

Timeline

With the project currently projected to go to statutory approval around 2027, officials told a media briefing yesterday that it is expected that construction work would begin sometime in 2031, with a likely three-year completion time.

Unveiling the emerging preferred route for the Cork Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Road (CNDMR), officials from Cork City Council, the National Transport Authority (NTA), and the Department of Transport have invited members of the public to participate in a non-statutory public consultation.

Proposals for the road were contained in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy, published in 2020, which detailed the transportation investment required to support the development of Cork until 2040.

The proposed road project is separate to the long-proposed Cork Northern Ring Road, which has languished on drawing boards for 20 years.

That road would run from the South Ring Road west of the city, extending north east past Ballincollig, Blarney, and Monard, linking with the planned M20 Cork to Limerick motorway and the M8 Cork to Dublin motorway.

Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, the Lord Mayor of Cork, said the unveiled plans would be crucial for improving sustainable transport options across the city, prioritising non-car-based transport modes.

Project will bring 'greater connectivity'

“It will bring greater connectivity to both existing and new communities in this part of the city and beyond,” he said.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, said it was vital that the proposed road would not face any more delays.

“It is essential to the delivery of BusConnects and to making residential communities safer both in terms of air quality and reducing traffic congestion,” he said.

Welcoming the announcement, Fianna Fáil councillor Tony Fitzgerald said it was exciting news for the northside, and he urged people to look at the proposed plans.

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said the publication of the plans highlighted the opportunities presented by the road, as well as the challenges.

“There are particular amenity areas that it’s proposed to pass through, for example,” said the Cork City North East councillor.

“These include the wooded area near Vienna Woods in Glanmire and across the Glenamought River Valley near Murphy’s Rock.”

Mr Moran said it would take imagination to address the competing demands on such areas for amenity and for transport.

Valerie O’Sullivan, chief executive of Cork City Council, said the new road would ease the movement of people and trade across the city and unlock opportunities for further investment.

Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy said the route would be critical for all those living and working on Cork’s northside.

“The new route will also unlock zoned lands to allow for housing and business development, supporting the growth of sustainable urban communities,” he said.

As part of the consultation process, Cork City Council will be holding four public information open days.

At these open days, members of the public can view the proposed route and speak to members of the project team.

The open days will take place on the following dates: