Planning for long-awaited Mallow relief road due to be lodged

A planning application for the long-awaited N72/N73 Mallow relief road is expected to be lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála before the end of the year.

Cork County Council is currently progressing the project through the design and environmental evaluation phase, according to an update on the route which was provided by Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to Cork North Central Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny.

The preliminary business case for the project is expected to be submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) next month.

If planning is approved and there are no legal challenges, advance works including fencing, archaeology and site clearance, are anticipated to begin in late 2027, with the main construction contract expected to be awarded in 2029.

Construction is currently expected to take approximately two years.

Earlier this year, the minister for transport also confirmed that €600,000 had been allocated for the scheme this year.

The road has been a long standing priority for the north Cork town, and aims to ease traffic congestion, improve road safety and support future growth.

Mr Kenny said that although the latest update regarding the Mallow Relief Road project is welcome, momentum must now be maintained to ensure the project progresses without delay.

“While there is still a significant amount of work to do, it is encouraging to see the project continuing to move through the required stages.

“Local people have waited far too long for this relief road, and it is essential that there is no loss of momentum.

“Anyone who travels through Mallow knows the daily traffic congestion the town experiences. This project will improve journey times, enhance road safety and make Mallow a better place to live, work and invest.”