Upgrade works on Cork city flood plan set to cause traffic disruption

Cork City Council has announced that further upgrade works at Morrison’s Island will begin from next week, with a number of interruptions expected for motorists over the coming month.

The alteration works, which get underway from July 14, will take place at the junction of South Mall and Parnell Place at Parnell Bridge.

The aim of the works is to improve pedestrian safety and traffic calming, and to enable the construction of the new public space at Parnell Plaza.

To facilitate these works, some day-time lane restrictions and night-time lane closures will be required.

From Monday, July 14 to Friday, July 25, the right-turning southbound lane from South Mall onto Parnell Bridge will be closed between the hours of 8pm to 6am, on week nights. Traffic travelling southbound from South Mall will be diverted via Parnell Place, Lower Oliver Plunkett Street, Clontarf Street, and Terence MacSweeney Quay onto Anglesea Street. 

Additionally, from Monday, July 28 to Friday, August 8, the left-turning, northbound lane from South Mall onto Parnell Place will be closed between 8pm to 6am, on week nights.

Traffic travelling northbound from South Mall will be diverted via Anglesea Street, Old Station Road, Eglinton Street, and Terence McSweeney Quay onto Parnell Place.

Advised

A spokesperson for Cork City Council has said that motorists are advised to plan their journeys in advance, and are asked to follow diversional signage where posted.

Provisions for pedestrians, cyclists and other footpath users will also be put in place within the vicinity during the works.

Cork City Council said that once the alteration works are completed, the two existing left hand lanes turning northbound from South Mall to Parnell Place will be converted to one lane.

This one lane will travel northbound and the existing traffic island and southbound lane will be moved slightly north of their current position.

The works come as part of the long awaited Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence project.

The total project area will encompass Morrison’s Quay and Father Mathew Quay, between Parnell Bridge and Parliament Bridge, as well as a small section on Union Quay at Trinity Bridge.

Works include implementation of high quality upgraded and accessible streetscape with new footpaths, public seating, a new plaza space and river viewing platform at Parnell Bridge, a public space at Trinity Bridge, as well as improvements at Holy Trinity Church.

Integrated flood defences will also be installed, providing protection against 1-in-100 year tidal flooding events for approximately 400 city centre properties.