Preferred route for €500m Cork northern distributor road revealed

The preferred route for the Cork northern distributor road — which was recently confirmed by the Government as being costed at up to €500m— has been announced.

However, the project is not expected to be completed until at least the mid-2030s.

Cork City Council confirmed that the Cork northern distributor multi-modal route project (CNDMR) will follow the emerging preferred route presented for public consultation earlier this year.

The proposed 14km road will run from the Carrigrohane Rd west of the city to Glanmire in the east, crossing the northside via Hollyhill, Dublin Hill, and Banduff.

Last week, the Government included the project in the revised National Development Plan (NDP), estimating its cost at between €200m and €500m.

Approval

The council also confirmed that the project recently received approval from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to proceed to environmental assessments and the preparation of preliminary designs.

Ground is not expected to be broken on the project, which is likely to take five years, until 2032 at the earliest.

The Cork northern distributor multi-modal route is a separate project to the long-proposed Cork Northern Ring Rd, which has languished on various drawing boards for 20 years.

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

Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, predicted that it would be at least a decade “and likely longer” before the Cork northern distributor multi-modal route was built.

“The reality is that this road was needed a decade ago, and it will be at capacity before it’s even built,” Mr Gould said about the project.

“It makes no sense that they won’t even begin preparing the Northern Ring Rd until after this road is completed.

“They should build these two roads in tandem, alongside investment in public transport, so the northside can finally have the infrastructure it needs and deserves,” Mr Gould added.

Concern

Mr Gould also expressed concern that the proposed route would cut through the planned north-west regional park.

“I can’t think of any decent park that’s cut in half by a large road, why should the northside have to put up with it?” he said.

Pádraig O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, said that while he welcomed the announcement of progress on the CNDMR, concerns remained around the route selection, particularly around the area in Glanmire, which needed to be clarified.

“However, in conjunction with the improvements to the railway line and the progressions of BusConnects in the coming year, the ongoing progress on the northern distributor road shows the Government’s commitment to improving public transport in Cork city and its environs,” he said.

The non-statutory public consultation held earlier this year by the council received 1,413 submissions and saw an attendance of more 900 people at information open days held at locations across the proposed CNDMR route, making it one of the most extensive public consultations ever undertaken by the council.

In a statement, Cork City Council restated its commitment to maximise the benefits of the proposed multi-modal road for residents and other users along the corridor, and it confirmed that there will be no requirement for the demolition of any homes as part of the scheme’s construction.

The council confirmed that the scheme design will be subject to further public consultation and ultimately, if proceeded with, a statutory planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Key component

The CNDMR was a key component of the 2020 Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) and, the council said, is intended to unlock northside lands zoned for the development of housing, linking residential development with key areas of employment and amenities.

As an inner urban road, it is intended to provide safe, dedicated infrastructure for walking, cycling, public transport and general traffic.

It is anticipated by the council that the preliminary design might be completed and the proposals ready for submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála as early as the first half of 2028. Subject to necessary approvals, tenders could be sought for the works as early as 2031.

Valerie O’Sullivan, Cork City Council chief executive, said she welcomed the project’s inclusion in the revised NDP, saying it reflected Government’s confidence in Cork as a key driver for regional growth and as a counterbalance to the capital.

Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO, said the scheme would have a transformative impact on communities across Cork’s northside and the wider region.

Dave O’Brien, Cork Business Association president, said the CNDMR presented a transformative opportunity to accelerate the transition to net carbon zero by facilitating a meaningful shift away from private car dependency.