Decade ‘in best case scenario’ to build new East Cork road

It will take 10 years “in a best-case scenario” to deliver a road to ease congestion between two of East Cork’s biggest towns.

The N25 Carrigtwohill-to-Midleton upgrade was “paused” in 2021, delaying plans for a 5km dual-carriageway realignment that would have separated out local traffic. 

It has now emerged the project is another decade away, with only a fraction of the funding allocated to Cork County Council.

The council’s head of roads, Padraig Barrett, said: “Four years ago, the estimated cost of building the new road was around €100m.

“At present, we are six to seven years off construction, and it will then take a further two years to build.

“That’s assuming that all goes according to plan, and we get the required government funding, and we have a positive outcome for the project from An Coimisiún Pleanála.”

The council received €500,000 from the Government this year to reactivate planning. 

Council officials are engaging with the consultants who drew up the original plans to progress to route selection, and to see if the original plans are valid under environmental legislation.

Need to resolve gridlock

Mr Barrett said they “need to resolve” the gridlock in the area. 

One of the major pinch points is the Lakeview roundabout at Midleton, where congestion is extreme, especially during peak hours. The likely scenario is that a flyover will have to be built there, but this will mean a pedestrian footbridge will have to be torn down and replaced with an underpass.

By the time the road is opened, the population of Midleton will have reached 28,000 — making it the largest town in Co Cork.

Projections for Carrigtwohill suggest its population will exceed 15,000.

The Industrial Development Authority has earmarked Carrigtwohill for further expansion, marking it out as a key location for foreign direct investment.

The town is also primed for major housing developments, all of which will add considerably more traffic on the N25.

Irish Rail has plans to expand the railway offering by increasing services to Midleton and Carrigtwohill, but local councillors have called for interim solutions.