Council approves York Hill closure to through traffic to improve Cork bus reliability

Despite strong objections, councillors approved plans to limit traffic on York Hill to improve public transport and pedestrian safety

Motorists have been constantly ignoring the no right-turn sign, causing disruption to traffic and delaying several bus services which use Summerhill North. Picture Dan Linehan

A hill in Cork City’s busiest school hub is to be closed to through traffic to eliminate illegal right turns that have been delaying key bus services.

City councillors approved the contentious plans on Monday night to remove through vehicular access along York Hill, which links Wellington Road and Summerhill North, and to introduce "filtered permeability" on the hill.

York Hill is a narrow two-way street between Wellington Road and Summerhill North, with York Terrace, a residential road, accessed from York Hill.

It is a key shortcut in an area which is home to several educational institutions, from Montessori schools, to primary schools, several secondary schools, and third-level colleges.

The entire area experiences regular school traffic gridlock.

No right turn is permitted from the bottom of York Hill onto Summerhill North.

But motorists have been constantly ignoring the no right-turn sign, causing disruption to traffic and delaying several bus services which use Summerhill North.

The city council decided to tackle the issue by bringing forward BusConnects Cork proposals for filtered permeability on York Hill.

The scheme, which was advertised in March, attracted 86 submissions, with seven in full support and 10 expressing qualified support.

However, 68 submissions objected to the project, citing concerns that traffic will be pushed to other already congested locations, that exit routes from the Wellington Road area are already very limited, and raising concerns about gridlock issues from school traffic at peak times.

Bus Éireann supported the measures and called for the swift implementation of the scheme, which the company believes will lead to "an immediate benefit to the reliability and punctuality of all services" that use Summerhill North.

In a report to councillors on Monday, the council’s Director of Operations, Paul Moynihan, said that while most submissions objected to the scheme, once complete, it will provide for a safer pedestrian and cyclist environment on York Hill, eliminate the unsafe illegal right-turning movement from York Hill to Summerhill North, and improve traffic flows on Summerhill North.

“The scheme is in line with Cork City Council’s goals and objectives for sustainable travel and, accordingly, it is recommended that the proposed scheme proceed without significant modification,” he said.

Councillors approved the scheme as proposed.

When the changes are introduced, motorists on Wellington Road who want to access Summerhill North to travel west will now have to travel east along Wellington Road to St Luke’s Cross and make their right turn there onto Summerhill North.

Vehicular access will be maintained to residential properties on York Terrace, which will be accessed via Summerhill North.

Two-way pedestrian and cycle access will also be retained on York Hill, with bollards installed both at the intersection of York Hill and Wellington Road and at the junction of York Hill and York Terrace, along with signs.

The bollards will be positioned to allow easy-through access for pedestrians and cyclists, including cargo bikes.

Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran welcomed the project and said it represents the kind of difficult local decision that will have to be made at locations right across the city to improve public transport.

“Overall, the effect benefits the entire city and bus services, including the 202, 208, 207 and 209. I also hope it raises questions about how school traffic is being managed in the area,” he said.

Fine Gael Cllr Joe Kavanagh also welcomed the scheme but said St Luke’s Cross needs traffic lights, and he urged officials to tackle illegal parking on Wellington Road and MacCurtain Street.

“St Luke’s Cross was mayhem last weekend. It is the most dangerous junction in the city by some distance, with zero regulation, and that will have to be addressed,” he said.

Labour Cllr John Maher also welcomed the York Hill project “as a positive step for the city”, and said on some busy school mornings, up to 120 cars would make the prohibited right turn from the hill onto Summerhill North.

Workers’ Party Cllr Ted Tynan said the changes are long overdue.

“Many of the objectors, who are driving their SUVs or little cars, will need to take a few minutes’ detour. They can live with that,” he said.