Public consultation closes without a single objection to new bus stops in Cork City

The new network has been designed to provide over 50% more bus services, including two 24-hour services, with more buses serving more areas

Details of the new interchange and terminus infrastructure were published before Christmas for consultation, without a single submission or objection to any of the five projects lodged by the closing date. File picture: Denis Minihane

Five new bus interchanges and termini are to be built across Cork City after public consultation closed without a single objection.

The new bus infrastructure has been designed to help implement the first phase of the city’s new bus network which is set to be rolled out by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in three phases, starting this year, as part of its multi-million BusConnects Cork programme.

The new network, which was unveiled in mid-2022, has been designed to provide over 50% more bus services, including two 24-hour services, with more buses serving more areas, bringing more people within walking distance of a high frequency bus service.

However, the buses need new or upgraded infrastructure to allow them to turn around at the new endpoints of the new and extended bus routes. This infrastructure is being advanced separately to the 11 strategic transport corridors (STCs), the draft designs of which are still undergoing public consultation.

Details of the new interchange and terminus infrastructure were published before Christmas for consultation, without a single submission or objection to any of the five projects lodged by the closing date. 

It means the facilities will be built over the coming months at:

• Clontarf Street, close to Clontarf bridge, where a bus boarding island with capacity for two buses will be provided, along with a bus shelter. A bike docking station will be relocated, with the new location yet to be decided;
• Parnell Place, with new on-road bus stops at Parnell Place, and an expanded stop at Clontarf Street, to bring bus services closer to interchange with the bus station and the train station;
• Cork University Hospital, where the existing bus slip lane on Wilton roundabout will be widened to provide bus stops and stands with capacity for three buses that will operate new orbital services;
• The Mardyke, where the existing bus lane near St Joseph’s NS will be widened to provide a new bus stand and bus stop location. Existing parking bays on the southern side of the road will be removed to accommodate a general traffic lane:
• Riverstown, Glanmire, where a westbound bus stand/stop will be provided in a layby on Hazlewood Road, with a shared boarding zone, cycle track and footway to rear to service the proposed new 2a bus service from MTU to Glanmire. 

It is also planned to widen the Hazlewood Centre access road to accommodate a bus left-turn in from Hazlewood Road, while maintaining the current two-lane exit. An eastbound in-line bus stop on Hazlewood Road is proposed, and planned cycle lanes will be modified slightly to tie in with the bus works.

All the works are being advanced by Cork City Council using Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994. The NTA plans to implement the new bus network in three phases during 2024 and 2025.

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The council said further terminal or interchange proposals and consultation may be required in other areas as the later phases of the bus network are implemented.

Meanwhile, the NTA has begun considering in detail the more than 500 submissions which were made on the third round of public consultation on its designs for the 11 STCs across the city, which closed just before Christmas.

You can view details of the city’s new bus network here.