€2m of cycling investment
The installation of increased cycling protection is to begin during the Halloween midterm break, City Hall has said.
Up to 4.65km of orca wands will be installed by contractors in the city centre and suburbs including Alfred Street, South Main Street, Washington Street, near UCC's gates on Western Road, Rossa Avenue, Mahon Point and Ballincollig.
Next month, the €1.5m upgrade and relining of 6km of cycle lane surfaces, as well as specific bus lane sections, is due to begin with new resin being placed on surfaces. These works will take place overnight. Resurfacing will take place in the city centre, Gillabbey Street, Proby’s Quay, Rossa Avenue, Ballincollig, Kinsale Road, Mahon Link and Douglas.
The news came as City Hall this week updated the media on its Re-imagining Cork City project, which was launched in late July in response to social distancing requirements resulting from Covid-19 as well as, City Hall said, an acceleration of the city council’s vision for a city of sustainable urban growth.
Up to €2m is being invested in the city’s cycling infrastructure, with support from the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Meanwhile, work recently began on 2.9km on ‘interim’ cycle lanes at Centre Park Road and Monahan Road. The Monahan Road lane is for inbound cycling towards the city centre while the Centre Park Road lane is outbound towards Blackrock.
A City Hall spokesperson said: “Both lanes will be protected with wands. The surface of these lanes is being renewed and new bus stop facilities will also be put in place on the route. Repairs are also being made to sections of the wider road surface. Work on Horgan’s Quay cycle lane is well advanced and will be operational before Christmas. Work on Donovan’s Road is scheduled to start within the next two to three weeks. The proposed two-way cycle lanes on South Mall will be going to tender in the coming days with construction to begin afterwards.”
More than 43 new bicycle racks are being installed across the city with new indoor racks now in place at North Main Street Shopping Centre and sponsored racks at St Patrick’s Street, Union Quay, Ballincollig Regional Park, Blackrock Castle car park, Grand Parade and Parnell Place. In recent days, racks were also installed at Coburg Street, MacCurtain Street, North Main Street, Daunt Square, St Patrick’s Street and Parnell Place.
“In the coming days, they will also be installed at either end of Mary Elmes Bridge and at Oliver Plunkett Street, Pembroke Street and on Grand Parade. Approximately 25-30 more will be installed outside the city centre by the end of the year. These new racks will enable the safe parking of approximately 500 bikes,” added the spokesperson.