Sections of Cork city's Mahon renewal works ‘substantially complete’

Construction works are continuing on the Mahon street renewal scheme, Cork’s first community-wide streetscape renewal programme, according to the latest progress update from Cork City Council.

While welcoming the development, Green Party councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Honore Kamegni, has called for greater community consultation to ensure residents’ concerns are addressed.

The scheme aims to provide improved streets which are safer and provide multi-modal connected links to schools, retail, sport, and leisure facilities within the Mahon area.

The €12m investment in the area is being funded by the National Transport Authority and aims to deliver new footpaths, carriageways, bus and cycle infrastructure, and additional measures including integrated traffic-calming measures.

Speaking about the scheme, Mr Kamegni welcomed the investment in the area, but expressed some concerns regarding the project’s implementation, saying: “Mahon is changing positively. This is a very good project to be delivered. When was the last time that we saw this kind of investment in Mahon?

“Residents are contacting me about their frustrations, mostly about the fact that their contributions to this important project were totally ignored.”

Concerns, he said, included a claim of two bus stops facing each other “and blocking the traffic”.

Construction on the scheme began in January 2024 with a planned completion for mid-2025.

The investment also aims to deliver on the installation of approximately 5.3km of safer cycling infrastructure, including segregated cycle tracks and greenways.

In a response to a query from The Echo regarding comments about residents’ concerns being ignored, a spokesperson for Cork City Council said that the public consultation commenced in April 2022 with notices published advising the public of the draft proposals.

“The notices also advised people how to view the plans (online and in Cork City Hall), how submissions could be made, etc.”

The council spokesperson said an open day was also held in Mahon Community Centre.

A total of 29 planning submissions were received in addition to the suggestions received during the open day, the spokesperson said, adding that “works are well under way on the scheme, with many sections now substantially completed.”