New road plans to be submitted by early 2028

Plans for the Cork Northern Distributor Road (CNDMR) are anticipated to be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála by early 2028, while tenders could be sought for the works by 2031.

The preferred route for the scheme, which was presented during public consultation process held earlier this year, has been confirmed.

The proposed route is 14 kilometres long from the western end of the Carrigohane Road to Glanmire in the east, crossing the northside of the city via Hollyhill, Dublin Hill, and Banduff.

The project has received approval from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to progress through the next stage of development which will include environmental assessments and the preparation of preliminary designs.

The project was included in the recent announcement by the Department of Transport of funding in relation to the Transport Sector Investment Plan, through which it is expected to be granted €200-€500 million.

The latest update on the project follows the non-statutory public consultation held earlier this year which received 1,413 submissions and saw an attendance of over 900 people at the four information open days.

According to Cork City Council, public feedback identified several themes which have been assessed and will inform the ongoing design process including access, property and lands, environment, public transport, delivery timelines, local traffic, and the City Development Plan.

The next phase of the project will involve a range of assessments, including flora and fauna surveys, geological investigations, archaeological studies, and detailed terrain mapping. It will also locate the precise route the road will follow, and confirm the number and type of proposed junctions, structures, and environmental measures.

City Council Chief Executive Valerie O’Sullivan said this was “another important step forward in the delivery of the CNDMR”.

“I welcome the recent announcement of the project’s inclusion in the National Development Plan, reflecting the Government’s confidence in Cork as a key driver for regional growth and as a counterbalance to the capital, and a determination to deliver the project in response to the evolving needs of the community, the economy and our environment,” she said.

CEO of Cork Chamber, Conor Healy said that the scheme will have a “transformative impact on communities across Cork’s northside and the wider region, enabling continued economic and population growth”.

President of the Cork Business Association Dave O’Brien said that the project was a “highly progressive step”, and will make public transport “genuinely attractive alternative for commuters”.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.