'Perfect storm' for East Cork as new homes will overwhelm creaking road network

Warnings were made of looming mayhem if road and rail network does not keep up with population boom

Midleton’s population is expected to grow to 27,854 by 2034, doubling in size, making it the largest town in County Cork.

A “perfect storm” is predicted for commuters in two of the biggest towns in East Cork as thousands more homes are built in the coming years and the already creaking road network becomes totally overwhelmed.

The current County Development Plan (CDP) projects that there will be huge population growth in Midleton and Carrigtwohill. Fears have again been expressed that the main road serving them (N25) won’t be able to cope with the additional commuter traffic this will generate.

Midleton’s population is expected to grow to 27,854 by 2034, doubling in size. This would make it the largest town in County Cork. 

At a recent Cork County Council meeting, Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan said: “As of the 2022 census, the population of Midleton was 13,906. According to the new CDP, Midleton’s population is expected to grow to 27,854 by 2034, doubling in size. This would make it the largest town in County Cork. 

"This growth is expected to be met by building an additional 8,549 units within the town’s confines. It should be noted that the town’s confines are also to expand, with an additional 74ha of land being zoned for housing needs.

“Carrigtwohill has a similar story. As of the 2022 census, the population there was 5,568 and is expected to grow to 14,968 by 2034. That is a projected population growth of 169% between these years.” 

Mr Horgan said this will all be going on while the upgrade of the road network has been stalled in recent years.

“The upgrade of the Carrigtwohill to Midleton dual carriageway has only recently been given the green light once again, with a nominal sum of €500,000 being made available in 2026. This is to conduct an assessment of previous phases and to see how it aligns with updated policies and legislation. The opening of this upgrade is many years away, taking into account possible redesign of elements, planning and construction,” he said.

Some €1m has been made available for the formulation of a plan for the upgrade of the N25 from Midleton to Youghal, he said. 

"This upgrade, along with the Lakeview Roundabout is some years away also," he added.

Mr Horgan has pointed out that the reopening of the Midleton – Youghal railway line could ease the looming transportation crisis, but again, even if approved, it would take years to complete.

He said the only feasible, realistic alternative is to use what is already there, "a strong, reliable, frequent local link service".

Mr Horgan won unanimous cross-party support for the council to write to the transport minister Darragh O'Brien and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to ask that sufficient funding be made available to transform the Local Link bus service in East Cork into a multi-frequency per day and seven-day-a-week service.

Mayor of County Cork, independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley, said there needs to be a complete overhaul of public transport in the region if they're to stave off traffic mayhem.

Cllr Michael Hegarty, the Fine Gael leader on the council, said the local authority had repeatedly asked the NTA to come before it and discuss the issues, but it had declined to do so.

“If we’re going to be serious about reducing the number of vehicles on our roads, then we have to have a full functioning public transport network,” independent councillor Peter O’Donoghue added.