Standoff delays publication of Cork's preferred light rail route
A Transit Maccurtain Cork’s System Style Proposed Of Visualisation Luas St On
A standoff over a northside-southside route choice for Cork’s proposed €1bn Luas-style light rail system has delayed the publication of a preferred route.
Engineers are now working on a solution after "a difference of opinion" over whether the tram should take a left or right turn at a key city junction — a left turn would have excluded St Patrick's St and the northside.
The solution will have to allow city-bound trams to negotiate the tight left turn off Washington St onto Grand Parade, and on into St Patrick’s St before a final preferred route can be published.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said he favours a northside route but an engineering solution must be found first.
The detail emerged after Mr Ryan was asked if there is a problem delaying the publication of the preferred route for the light rail system.
“I don't think there is a problem. There is a choice. Do you go southside or northside? Do you come across the river into Kent Station?”
“Finn’s Corner on Washington St is a tight turn.
"In truth it’s an engineering challenge, but if we can overcome the challenge... the preference would be to go northside.”
It’s just over four years since contracts were awarded to assess route options for the 17km east-west tram linking Ballincollig to Mahon.
An emerging preferred route was expected by late 2022 but a key issue behind the delay is a “difference of opinion” over the left or right turn at Finn’s Corner.
An initial option suggested city-bound trams should turn right here, going down South Mall and into the south docks, avoiding the city's main street, and not taking in Kent Station.
But the council insisted the route should turn left and run through St Patrick’s St, cross St Patrick’s Bridge, and then down MacCurtain St to a hub at Kent Station, before crossing the Lee again via a new bridge into the south docks, and on to Mahon via a section of the Marina to Mahon greenway.
An emerging preferred route is expected to be ready for public consultation before the end of the year.