Overcrowded Cork South Ring Road?

Sponge Bob · 05-11-2008 11:54pm

Senator Dan Boyle has strongly objected to funds being released because he wants more buses in Cork.

Michael Martin has not done much either, he has instead spent the last few years trying to replace the tottering drug industry as minister for employment.

It is not a priority at present shall we say :cool:

invincibleirish · 06-11-2008 12:30am

Great, Do we spend money on a distinctly sub par bus service, or try and upgrade the pre Celtic Tiger sub par ring road. i'd say prioritise the SR only because Cork is such a car reliant place anyway, a few extra buses will mean relatively little given that public transport needs a radical overhaul in Cork.

But why bother, neither Buses or upgrades will come to fruition anyway for a long while yet.

Prowetod · 06-11-2008 5:55pm

I am a daily user of both roundabouts in question, I am often waiting 20 mins to travel 500m!!! I really hope the government wake up and get something done soon!

corktina · 06-11-2008 8:39pm

i would think the ideal solution would be a flyover to pass over both roundabouts and be on stilts with the existing roads left as they are beneath the new road for local traffic.....

Amtmann · 16-12-2008 12:06am

The subject of Waterford's new N25 bypass and the potential for grotesque and innapropriate development along it prompted me to randomly google 'N25'.

And look what I found! http://www.n25.ie/

I suggest people look at that. It's not dated, but if even one of these monstrosities gets the go ahead, they may as well slap parking ticket vendors on the SRR, because it simply won't be a road anymore. It's actually appalling that people can be so greedy and short-sighted.

BluntGuy · 16-12-2008 12:25am

Speechless...

And where the hell are the NRA? Are they just going to sit there and let this appalling, inexcusable development take place...

Hopefully the recession has prompted the developers to pull out of this ludicrous proposal.

As Furet already said, the SRR is quickly turning into an M50-style car park. Those who've experienced the dreaded "Mahon Point On-Ramp" will know the horror to which I refer. It takes about half-an-hour to traverse the best part of 300 metres, a situation that will only get worse if these idiotic ideas are made a reality.

And if my fears are correct, then this is exactly what will happen at Grannagh and the Westlink junctions on the N25 Waterford Bypass. C'mon NRA, you had the balls to reck the corrupt councillors' plans and redesignate other stretches, why not this one?

Amtmann · 16-12-2008 12:37am

What makes me livid is the public transport provision for Mahon Point patrons.

Get this: it's a solitary red pole, indicating a single-decker bus stops there four times hourly at peak periods. It's in the middle of a bleak footpath, and doesn't even provide shelter from the rain. That's it. No wonder everyone drives there!

invincibleirish · 16-12-2008 12:43am

BluntGuy wrote: »

And if my fears are correct, then this is exactly what will happen at Grannagh and the Westlink junctions on the N25 Waterford Bypass. C'mon NRA, you had the balls to reck the corrupt councillors' plans and redesignate other stretches, why not this one?

Speculating on my part again but im assuming when the Gov. prioritised the Interurbans above all other projects the NRA might have wanted to spend some of that money on other projects that werent Interurbans, perhaps projects like the SRR Interchanges, which got long fingered because of the commitment to the Interurban programme.

The link is Martin Cullen, and my point is if he can ensure the M9 gets built, quickly, then im sure he has enough 'sway' at the cabinet table and outside to ensure the N25 BP remains undesignated, after all i can only imagine it would be in his electoral interests to do so?

After all out of town shopping Mall & Estate placed at various junctions and greenfield sites= jobs and prosperity, Motorways bring progress?

BluntGuy · 16-12-2008 12:44am

Furet wrote: »

What makes me livid is the public transport provision for Mahon Point patrons.

Get this: it's a solitary red pole, indicating a single-decker bus stops there four times hourly at peak periods. It's in the middle of a bleak footpath, and doesn't even provide shelter from the rain. That's it. No wonder everyone drives there!

Wow, so the largest shopping centre in Cork gets... that. I didn't even know Mahon had a bus link. To find out it was so substandard is not a pleasant surprise...

Truly pathetic... although four services an hour is heaven compared to the lame service Ballincollig (a service I often use when I can) receives...

But how can you not even have a bleedin' shelter? I was driving through Cahir the other day and noticed THEY HAD A NEW ONE! A town where at most 100 people use the bus everyday can get one where as a large shopping centre that serves a huge catchment cannot.

Words cannot describe some of the idiocy we encounter everyday in this country.

invincibleirish · 16-12-2008 12:50am

Furet wrote: »

What makes me livid is the public transport provision for Mahon Point patrons.

Get this: it's a solitary red pole, indicating a single-decker bus stops there four times hourly at peak periods. It's in the middle of a bleak footpath, and doesn't even provide shelter from the rain. That's it. No wonder everyone drives there!

Integrated public transport Irish style. Mahon is supposed to be the endpoint for a transport corridor into the city centre in council plans emerging in recent times? Mahon also supposed to have a indoor arena stadium thing:p its been what 5 years since MP opened?

BluntGuy · 16-12-2008 12:57am

For more on those hideous developments, check out this website:

http://www.mahonpoint.ie/

They sound so proud of it. :mad:

Amtmann · 16-12-2008 12:59am

Ha, listen to the greedy developer's honeyed words here: http://www.mahonpoint.ie/ (Click on the Jacob's Island tab)

(There won't be much room for the bunny rabbit habitats after they build their appaling apartments.)

BluntGuy · 16-12-2008 1:07am

Furet wrote: »

Ha, listen to the greedy developer's honeyed words here: http://www.mahonpoint.ie/ (Click on the Jacob's Island tab)

(There won't be much room for the bunny rabbit habitats after they build their appaling apartments.)

I guess you found that website as well...

Utterly disgusting... I will be contacting both the NRA and Cork City Council on this disgrace of a plan. Surely they cannot give permission for something that will adversely affect traffic flow especially when public transport in Cork is the equivalent of trying to move a cliff-face armed with nothing more than a plastic carrier bag.

Amtmann · 16-12-2008 1:19am

I still believe that a LUAS is what's needed for Cork. A single very long line taking in all the main points from the proposed station at Dunkettle to Mahon, Douglas, Wilton, UCC, City Centre, Kent. I guarantee it would be viable. You could put another line on the South Link if there was enough demand. Everyone sitting in a car is a potential customer. The South Ring shouldn't be for hellish commuting.

dmeehan · 17-12-2008 12:57pm

why dont they use the disused railway line as a luas line from mahon (there is even a bridge over to hartys quay/rochestown) into town via the docklands?

You can see the alignment in this google maps view: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=,+ireland&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=21.597575,55.458984&ie=UTF8&ll=51.889259,-8.411922&spn=0.014568,0.061798&t=h&z=15

bill_ashmount · 17-12-2008 1:16pm

Furet wrote: »

I still believe that a LUAS is what's needed for Cork. A single very long line taking in all the main points from the proposed station at Dunkettle to Mahon, Douglas, Wilton, UCC, City Centre, Kent. I guarantee it would be viable. You could put another line on the South Link if there was enough demand. Everyone sitting in a car is a potential customer. The South Ring shouldn't be for hellish commuting.

What kind of passenger numbers do these kind of operations need to be economically viable? How much would building costs be?

Obviously not looking for exact figures

Amtmann · 17-12-2008 1:22pm

bill_ashmount wrote: »

What kind of passenger numbers do these kind of operations need to be economically viable? How much would building costs be?

Obviously not looking for exact figures

Based on qualitative observation, the thousands of cars stuck in jams, and the overcrowded nature of city busses. Also on Douglas, Ballincollig commuters, and taking into account projected population growth. Of course it's viable. You wouldn't run it every 5 minutes though.

Carawaystick · 18-12-2008 12:25am

Furet wrote: »

I still believe that a LUAS is what's needed for Cork. A single very long line taking in all the main points from the proposed station at Dunkettle to Mahon, Douglas, Wilton, UCC, City Centre, Kent. I guarantee it would be viable. You could put another line on the South Link if there was enough demand. Everyone sitting in a car is a potential customer. The South Ring shouldn't be for hellish commuting.

What Cork needs is a bus company to run a bus service,
The N11 QBC in Dublin has a higher capacity than the (mostly) off street Green line luas, as measured in passengers per hour.

Lennoxschips · 18-12-2008 2:23pm

And where the hell are the NRA? Are they just going to sit there and let this appalling, inexcusable development take place...

Have you seen the NRA board?

One of the papers did a thing about it last year, there's only one transport expert on the NRA board and the other 8 or 9 are developers and/or friends of FF.

Lennoxschips · 18-12-2008 2:28pm

For example, the chairman of the NRA board is a Mr. Peter Malone. He is the head of the Irish division of UK company CB Richard Ellis.

CB Richard Ellis is a multi-billion dollar worldwide real estate development company.

E92 · 18-12-2008 5:00pm

Lennoxschips wrote: »

Have you seen the NRA board?

One of the papers did a thing about it last year, there's only one transport expert on the NRA board and the other 8 or 9 are developers and/or friends of FF.

I don't doubt what you're saying(for once!), but it does seem odd for a board of "property developers" that they went to so much trouble to get roads reclassified to Motorways(of course they should have been Motorways for a start but that's neither here nor there)?

Why would property developers want to forbid more Mahon Points for example?

Amtmann · 18-12-2008 5:02pm

Lennoxschips wrote: »

Have you seen the NRA board?

One of the papers did a thing about it last year, there's only one transport expert on the NRA board and the other 8 or 9 are developers and/or friends of FF.

That must be a bad joke. I believe it though. Can you remember where the article was published?

steps_3314 · 18-12-2008 5:05pm

Furet wrote: »

Just came out of the tunnel a half an hour ago (it's a Sunday afternoon) and the traffic on the SRR was unbelievable. The ramps leading to and from Mahon Point (I despise that horrible place) were jammed as usual, with tailbacks spilling back several hundred meters.

Relative to its size, from the Sarsfield Roundabout to the Mahon ramp, the SRR must be almost as busy as the M50. It does its job quite well considering it's fairly old, cracked in places and has no shoulder around Douglas.

What upgrades would you make to this road?

Simple like America remove roundabouts and have slips exits where the roundabouts are. Do you ever see backed up traffice by the slips into Douglas compared to the backups near the Sarsfield and Bandon roundabouts. It's ridicolous.

Dob74 · 18-12-2008 5:14pm

dmeehan wrote: »

why dont they use the disused railway line as a luas line from mahon (there is even a bridge over to hartys quay/rochestown) into town via the docklands?

You can see the alignment in this google maps view: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=,+ireland&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=21.597575,55.458984&ie=UTF8&ll=51.889259,-8.411922&spn=0.014568,0.061798&t=h&z=15

That rail line is a gem. Its amazing that cork had 6 rail lines 1900 and only 2 in 2000. I feel sorry for anyone living in the jacobs island apartments. Most be hell listening to the traffic go by all day.
Hopefully they will build the north ring road that may take a nice slice of traffic off the SRR.
Wish they would ban tractors during peak times. Every morning was delayed going through the tunnel last summer by one.

BluntGuy · 18-12-2008 6:13pm

Dob74 wrote: »

Wish they would ban tractors during peak times.

I wish they'd ban them full stop.

Lennoxschips · 18-12-2008 9:37pm

E92 wrote: »

I don't doubt what you're saying(for once!), but it does seem odd for a board of "property developers" that they went to so much trouble to get roads reclassified to Motorways(of course they should have been Motorways for a start but that's neither here nor there)?

These guys are hard core property developers. They're not interested in one-off developments with entrances leading onto the carriageway, motorway restrictions are of no interest them.

In fact, motorway restrictions ensure a faster road that will funnel people to their sprawling out of town housing estates in outlying villages as quickly as possible.

The article about the NRA was in the Sindo I believe. Earlier this year or late last year.

Lennoxschips · 18-12-2008 9:52pm

Dob74 wrote: »

Hopefully they will build the north ring road that may take a nice slice of traffic off the SRR.

or bring norries to mahon point...

parsi · 19-12-2008 12:57pm

steps_3314 wrote: »

Simple like America remove roundabouts and have slips exits where the roundabouts are. Do you ever see backed up traffice by the slips into Douglas

Yes. Regular backups on both slips into Douglas.

BluntGuy · 23-12-2008 4:47pm

I e-mailed the NRA two weeks ago about the whole proposed Mahon Point. Turns out they are opposed to the horrible planned developments:

Question:

It is my understanding that the NRA engaged in the motorway redesignation process for the primary purpose of protecting roads from inappropiate developement. As a matter of interest, did the NRA object to the Mahon Point fiasco that now blights the SRR? Also, are there any future plans for the SRR barring the eventual grade seperation of two of the roundabouts?

There are plans to grade separate the Cork Southern Ring Road interchanges, however, there are currently no further plans for works at this location. The Authority has objected to the current proposed development at Mahon Point.

itisyeah · 03-10-2009 9:34am

I know we are in a recession, but going through these 2 roundabouts (Sarsfield & Bandon) 2 times a day for the last 4 years is starting to piss me off.

Anyone have any update on propsed fly-overs?

Chris_533976 · 03-10-2009 9:55am

No chance

A certain Cork councillor has been fighting AGAINST them for some time, wanting money put into buses. And for some reason, these never seemed to be high up the priority list.

In any case, I'd guess it'll be about a decade before these are touched. They're not part of the four PPPs and I doubt anything else is going to go ahead for a long time. I'd love to be proven wrong though, because these should have been done a long time ago.

itisyeah · 03-10-2009 10:10am

Chris_533976 wrote: »

No chance A certain Cork councillor has been fighting AGAINST them for some time, wanting money put into buses. And for some reason, these never seemed to be high up the priority list.

In any case, I'd guess it'll be about a decade before these are touched. They're not part of the four PPPs and I doubt anything else is going to go ahead for a long time. I'd love to be proven wrong though, because these should have been done a long time ago.

I'll hazard a guess that unlike me, this Cork concillor doesn't have to travel to work from Midelton to Ovens and back every day along the excuse of a road called the South Ring. :mad:

Dan Boyle I presume?

What are the four PPPs anyway?

corktina · 03-10-2009 10:10am

well theere has been some progress and the land required has been taken and cleared by the look of it...meantime, if you are in the know, there is a way around them at rush hour which saves queuing fro ages...:cool:

Midleton to ovens? take the airport road...up to the traffic lights ..turn right, down the hill to T junc, turn left...up hill...turn right at Cemetary sign...down narrow road, brings you out just above viaduct...down to roundabout turn left back on to SRR a bit narrow but quicker...

itisyeah · 03-10-2009 10:28am

corktina wrote: »

well theere has been some progress and the land required has been taken and cleared by the look of it...meantime, if you are in the know, there is a way around them at rush hour which saves queuing fro ages...:cool:

Midleton to ovens? take the airport road...up to the traffic lights ..turn right, down the hill to T junc, turn left...up hill...turn right at Cemetary sign...down narrow road, brings you out just above viaduct...down to roundabout turn left back on to SRR a bit narrow but quicker...

Thanks for the tip, usually its notthat bad in the morning coming from Midelton direction at the Sarsfield road roundabout as they sometimes have a guard on duty ensuring cars in the middle lane do not turn right. Having said that, it sometimes gets backed up as far as the Kinsale roundabout alright.
The main pain point for me is between the Sarsfield road roundabout and the Bandon roundabout. It can take 20-25 minutes just to get from 1 roundabout to the next. So frustrating. Who the hell designed the South ring road?!?!

Who could you contact to find out more about this, the council, the NRA?
This appears to be out of data
http://www.corkrdo.ie/files/N25%20SOUTH%20RING%20ROAD.pdf

corktina · 03-10-2009 10:39am

itisyeah wrote: »

Thanks for the tip, usually its notthat bad in the morning coming from Midelton direction at the Sarsfield road roundabout as they sometimes have a guard on duty ensuring cars in the middle lane do not turn right. Having said that, it sometimes gets backed up as far as the Kinsale roundabout alright.
The main pain point for me is between the Sarsfield road roundabout and the Bandon roundabout. It can take 20-25 minutes just to get from 1 roundabout to the next. So frustrating. Who the hell designed the South ring road?!?!

Who could you contact to find out more about this, the council, the NRA?
This appears to be out of data
http://www.corkrdo.ie/files/N25%20SOUTH%20RING%20ROAD.pdf

Oh well if you can get to the sarsfield donut Ok...simply turn left....turn right at top of road and then follow cemetary sign as before...piece of pi, um i mena cake....

itisyeah · 03-10-2009 10:48am

corktina wrote: »

Oh well if you can get to the sarsfield donut Ok...simply turn left....turn right at top of road and then follow cemetary sign as before...piece of pi, um i mena cake....

nice one, ill give that a try.

Zoney · 03-10-2009 10:50am

I'm only occasionally down in Cork and these r/bouts are ridiculous. I mean you thought the original M50 junctions were under-spec? Try *at-grade* signalised roundabout junctions!

corktina · 03-10-2009 10:57am

an Irish speciality, sticking traffic lights on a roundabout...IF Cork motorists were able to drive properley and didnt set out with an "im all right Jack, sod the rest of you" attitude, then the roundabouts on their own would be the fairly efficent....It's because of the aforesaid that lights became necessary and they are the cause of the hold ups.

Chris_533976 · 03-10-2009 12:35pm

Zoney wrote: »

I'm only occasionally down in Cork and these r/bouts are ridiculous. I mean you thought the original M50 junctions were under-spec? Try *at-grade* signalised roundabout junctions!

Originally Sarsfield and Bandon Rd werent even signallised!

Although since I've moved to Galway, having nine roundabouts on the ring road is worse!

itisyeah · 03-10-2009 12:57pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Originally Sarsfield and Bandon Rd werent even signallised!

Although since I've moved to Galway, having nine roundabouts on the ring road is worse!

9!
Thats just madness.
What is it about Irish people and planning.

corktina · 03-10-2009 3:06pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Originally Sarsfield and Bandon Rd werent even signallised!

Although since I've moved to Galway, having nine roundabouts on the ring road is worse!

as I say IF people could drive properley and couteously, there'd be no need for the lights....

cork_south · 15-03-2010 9:16pm

“The NRA has given its approval for the tender process to proceed for these two strategically important interchanges on the N25 South Ring Road network. I understand the plan is to have contracts in place later this year, with construction on the interchanges starting next year. This is tremendous news for Cork City and County.

“The completion of the Kinsale road interchange in 2006 had a hugely positive impact on the South Ring road network. The real benefits of that investment, however, were never going to be realised until the interchanges at the Bandon road and Sarsfield road roundabouts were developed as well.

“Once these new interchanges are completed, the South Ring Road will be a critical piece of infrastructure and will be an important asset for the region. I have no doubt but that the investment in these interchanges will pay a rich economic dividend for Cork in the years ahead. The interchanges will also make daily life so much easier for thousands of Cork commuters.

“I very much look forward to seeing progress on the development of these two key interchanges in the period ahead. I wish to compliment Minister Noel Dempsey and the NRA for supporting this critical project for Cork,” concluded Deputy McGrath.

Lennoxschips · 15-03-2010 11:33pm

Meanwhile the public transport network in Cork is exactly the same as it was in 1988.

BluntGuy · 16-03-2010 1:16am

Lennoxschips wrote: »

Meanwhile the public transport network in Cork is exactly the same as it was in 1988.

They only recently got the double-decker buses back, which are utitlised very poorly from my experience.

Overcrowded Cork South Ring Road?

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