Analysis: Long-awaited Cork northern distributor road the most important in Ireland?

“A couple of years ago, the northern distributor road wasn’t really on anyone’s radar, beyond a vague aspiration,” a business source told this reporter earlier this month.

“Now you couldn’t be accused of exaggeration if you said it was probably the most important road in the country.” 

Another source, this one with knowledge of the construction industry, suggested the same piece of infrastructure might initially cost in the region of €20m per kilometre “and after that, how long is a piece of string?” 

The emerging preferred route for the long-awaited Cork northern distributor road was published late last month, and Cork City Council was very particular about the phrase “emerging preferred route”, as it has to go to public consultation before it can be called the preferred route.

The proposed new road will be 14km long, running from the Carrigrohane Rd in the west to Glanmire in the east, crossing the northside of Cork city via Hollyhill, Dublin Hill and Banduff. In the words of the council, it will provide "a strategic orbital transport corridor around the northside of Cork city”.

Earlier this week, the Irish Times reported on Apple chief executive Tim Cook congratulating Micheál Martin on his election as Taoiseach, saying “We look forward to continuing to work with you and your coalition partners in the years ahead”.

Apple – which employs more than 6,000 people in Ireland and which in 2023 paid €7.21bn in corporation tax here – has previously lobbied politicians on infrastructure in Cork, saying transport issues were “hindering” its growth.

Despite Micheál’s shamrock bowl diplomacy, the Trump White House is unlikely to stay charmed for too long with Ireland, so it might not be a bad idea to stay on Apple’s good side.

With 14km of road, bus lanes, cycle lanes and footpaths in either direction, €20m per kilometre would cost €280m and – as we have seen from other infrastructure projects – it is unlikely to stop there.

It hardly seems unreasonable to suggest that the final bill for the northern distributor road, by its projected completion in the mid-2030s, might well top half a billion.

If it keeps Apple in Cork, it might prove money well spent.

Next Tuesday, in City Hall, Cork City Council will hold the last of four public information open days on the emerging preferred route for the northern distributor road.

Plans and a route map can also be viewed on www.cndmrpublicconsultation.ie.

The consultation period runs until 5pm on Thursday, 10 April.