Plans have been unveiled for a major new cycle network to link UCC with Cork’s city centre.
To accommodate the network a number of traffic lanes and parking spaces will be removed at various locations.
New cycle lanes will be installed on Washington Street, Lancaster Quay, the North Mall, Pope’s Quay, South Main Street and on Proby’s Quay.
Along the routes many of the existing pedestrian crossings will be replaced with wider crossings which can accommodate cyclists.
On Lancaster Quay a new cycle lane will travel from the gates of UCC towards the city centre against the flow of traffic. It will be installed on the northern side of the road. The existing parking spaces will be moved outside the cycle lane to protect cyclists from the traffic. As a result the dedicated right turn lane for traffic heading onto Dyke Parade will be removed.
Changes will also be made to traffic lanes on Washington Street. The two lanes heading west from Grand Parade will be reduced to one lane. The two traffic lanes for cars approaching the Grand Parade will be retained.
On the North Mall a new cycle lane will be installed heading towards the city centre for cyclists coming from Sundays Well, Distillery House and the Mardyke Walk.
The existing two-way traffic will be kept. However, all the parking spaces on the northern side of the road will be removed.
The cycle lane will continue on to Popes’ Quay with a two way cycle lane on the northern side of the road.
As a result traffic on Pope’s Quay will be reduced to one lane. Much of the existing perpendicular parking spaces on Pope’s Quay will be switched to parallel parking.
Finally, outside St Finn Barre’s Cathedral on Bishop Street and Proby’s Quay an eastbound cycle lane will also be installed and will continue past South Gate Bridge as far as Nano Nagle Bridge.
The two traffic lanes on Sullivan’s Quay will be reduced to one lane as they approach the bottom of Barrack Street.
The Cycle Network plans can be viewed in City Hall and will remain on display until October 31 and members of the public can make submissions on them.
