Cork northern distributer road would ‘dump traffic’ on Glanmire, says councillor

The preferred route for the Cork northern distributor road — which was confirmed this week by the Cork City Council – will “dump regional-level traffic into local roads” and turn the Glanmire area into a rat-run, a local councillor has claimed.

Progress on planning the new road, which has been costed by the Government at up to €500m and is unlikely to be started for five years or finished until at least a decade from now, has received a broad welcome in the city.

However, the 14km stretch, which will run from the Carrigrohane Rd west of the city and cross the northside via Hollyhill, Dublin Hill, and Banduff, has proven controversial at its proposed endpoint.

In the Glanmire area, where the Cork northern distributor multi-modal route project (CNDMR) is proposed to join the R639 road, one local councillor has said the proposals are “unfair on local residents” and the result of “poor planning”.

Overwhelm

Margaret McDonnell, Fianna Fáil city councillor for the north-west ward, the current proposals would overwhelm the area.

“If the intention is to drive ahead with the current alignment, carving through the wooded hillsides above Glanmire, dropping traffic onto the R639 between the grotto and the Vienna Woods Hotel, then this community is being asked to accept the unacceptable,” she said.

“Residents in Glanmire, Sallybrook, and Riverstown have endured two years of roadworks, diversions, and disruption, to facilitate long-overdue flood relief and road upgrades.

“Those works were justified on the basis that they would protect the valley, improve safety and enhance the environment for decades to come.

“Routing a major distributor road straight onto that same stretch of the R639 would undo those gains at a stroke.”

 Ms McDonnell said current design would “dump regional-level traffic into local roads and turn the R639, New Inn, Mayfield and the Old Youghal Road, Glanmire village, Sallybrook and Riverstown into rat-runs."

She added that the need for better northside transport links was not in dispute, but the route must be responsible, sustainable and community focused.

Extensive consultation

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said there had been “extensive consultation” regarding the emerging preferred route, which had involved the council going out and engaging with the public in open days.

“There were more than 1,400 submissions, which were all read and analysed, and that feedback has informed what is now the preferred route.

“As we move into detailed design, there will be more consultation, so this is not the end of the consultation,” they said.

"Seven feasible options were subject to detailed assessment and this route emerged as one that strikes the best balance between benefits and impacts. There has been extensive consultation and more is planned.

“This has been expertly planned, and the idea that there has been poor planning just doesn’t stack up.”