Call for footbridge to connect Cork city suburbs to Tramore Valley Park   

Renewed appeals are being made to connect Ballyphehane and Turner’s Cross with one of Cork’s largest outdoor amenities via a footbridge.

Councillor Fiona Kerins and TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire have renewed calls for a bridge to be installed connecting the areas of Turner’s Cross and Ballyphehane with Tramore Valley Park.

“Tramore Valley Park is a fantastic amenity, but for residents in Ballyphehane, Turner’s Cross, and Togher, pedestrian access from that side is cut off by the Link Road,” Mr Ó Laoghaire said. 

“They have to walk 32 minutes along a narrow footpath via South Douglas Rd.”

They are campaigning for a footbridge to ensure the park is opened up to more people.

“Tramore Valley Park is a terrific park of some 170 acres and runs side by side with Turner’s Cross and Ballyphehane. Yet residents are cut off by the Link. You should be able to walk to it in five minutes but the nearest pedestrian entrance is located at Half Moon Lane,” Cllr Kerins said.

The local representatives measured a total time of 32 minutes to walk from the entrance of the old CMP site in Ballyphehane to the pedestrian entrance to Tramore Valley Park, a walk of over two-and-a-half kilometres.

No funding in place

The Sinn Féin TD added: “We are campaigning for a footbridge across the Link Road so that people can get the full benefit and can cycle or walk to this park. The NTA and Cork City Council are open to this idea, but no concrete funding has been put in place yet.”

Cllr Fiona Kerins said: “We are going to keep the pressure up in Cork City Council and in the Dáil to ensure that this happens.”

In November 2023, a pedestrian and cycle link to Tramore Valley Park, which includes a bridge over the N40, was opened to the public.

The Grange Rd to Tramore Valley Park pedestrian and cycle link over the N40 connects the residents of Grange, Frankfield, Donnybrook, Douglas, and the surrounding areas to the amenity.

Following the opening of the Mount Vernon Bridge, Cork City Council allocated €70k for a feasibility study to improve pedestrian access to Tramore Valley Park following calls from now Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice on improved pedestrian access into Tramore Valley Park from the Ballyphehane side.

Examine feasibility

Following his motion in 2024, the council told Mr Rice: “Earlier this year the city council secured an initial grant allocation of €70,000 to examine the feasibility of establishing a new improved east-west link into Tramore Valley Park.

“This funding will also help progress the preparation of a scheme brief which could be used for the procurement of a design team in the coming year (subject to continued funding) with a view to the developing preliminary proposals for such a new connection. The overall concept is at an early stage.”