Cork BusConnects works ‘a chance to reduce noise’, says former lord mayor

Not taking the opportunity of BusConnects to fit noise-reduction measures will be a missed opportunity, a former lord mayor of Cork has said.

The preliminary business case for BusConnects Cork is currently being considered by the Department of Transport, and the National Transport Authority (NTA) is set to submit compulsory purchase order packs, to acquire land for the project, to An Coimisiún Pleanála this year.

The redesigned bus network is due to be rolled out in phases from mid-2026 and involves the creation of new bus routes and improved bus frequencies. The NTA has procured a contractor for construction works providing bus stops, bus layover, turnabouts etc and has commenced these works across the city which are expected to be complete in Q1 2026.

Subject to funding availability, it is intended that the new network will be implemented on a phased basis, beginning in 2026 and running into 2027.

Noise barriers

Mick Finn, former Independent Cork city councillor, has called for Taoiseach Micheál Martin to step up for his own area and get noise barriers installed.

Mr Finn told The Echo: “Having made a submission, as a councillor, to install noise amelioration barriers on the South Link as part of BusConnects, I have been informed it’s unlikely to happen.

“I’m calling on the Taoiseach to get this done. I doubt the other South Central TDs even know it’s such an issue for residents of Capwell, Turner’s Cross, and Curragh Road.”

Mr Finn had asked the NTA BusConnects Cork team to include this as part of the new plan, and received the following response: “For the South City Link Road between Mick Barry Road and South Douglas Road, the current noise assessment is indicating an ‘imperceptible/positive’ impact in the design year, so no noise prevention measures are currently being proposed for the scheme in the area.”

Mr Finn said: “My point is that BusConnects investment affords the opportunity to do something for residents that should have been done in the 90s.

“They are living with huge noise issues… these have to be compounded by extra buses, no matter what is said.”