Fear infrastructure projects will cause traffic chaos in city

Business leaders in Cork City have called for emergency talks with the city’s transport chiefs after it emerged that two major projects are set to cause traffic chaos for over a month.

The ESB announced plans yesterday for a major high-voltage cable upgrade in the city.

The news comes just days after it was confirmed that one of the city’s busiest bridges is to close for refurbishment.

It emerged last night that both projects will overlap, sparking fears of traffic chaos.

“If the works are necessary then they have to be done,” Cork Business Association spokesman, Donal Healy, said. “But we have to make sure that the work is done with the least amount of disruption, and in consultation with city centre traders.

“I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the authorities to discuss the impact these projects will have, and how it can be minimised.”

ESB Networks revealed details yesterday of its plans to upgrade the critical, high-voltage, 110kV cable between the ESB’s Marina generating station on Centre Park Road, and the Trabeg 110kV station on South Douglas Road.

New underground cables will be installed to replace the existing cables, which were installed in 1961 and 1973 respectively. Those cables had a life span of about 40 years.

A spokesman said the new cables, coupled with the new Marina 110kV GIS switching station which is being commissioned, and a transformer replacement at Marina and Trabeg 110kV stations, will greatly enhance the electrical infrastructure required to meet future development within the city.

He said the route of the underground cables has just been agreed and the biggest impact on traffic movement will take place from Jul 23 to Aug 27. The areas affected will include Centre Park Rd, Monahan Rd, Victoria Rd, Albert Rd, Albert St and South City Link Road.

A section of the outbound carriageway of the South Link — from the Esso petrol station to 500 metres past the South Douglas Road slip road — will close, and a contra flow system will be introduced on the inbound carriageway.

“The route of this work has been agreed in consultation with Cork City Council, An Garda Síochána and other utility providers,” the spokesman said. “ESB Networks apologies for any inconvenience that this work may cause to the public but re-iterates that this project will greatly enhance the electrical infrastructure required to meet future development of Cork City.”

It pledged to issue regular updates on the works.

Meanwhile, motorists will face disruption when Brian Boru Bridge closes from 9pm on Sat, Jul 21, until 6am on Mon, Aug 20, to facilitate refurbishment works, including the removal of paint from the 100-year-old structure.

Because much of the older paint is lead-based, the entire bridge will be covered in plastic to prevent dust contamination of the air and river. Scaffolding has been erected to facilitate significant upgrade works underneath the bridge’s structure.

Cars, buses and trucks coming from MacCurtain St and St Luke’s will have to divert around Kent Railway Station.

Bus Éireann said it is working on alternative routes for its fleet and said some timetables could be affected.