Cork movement strategy report recommends Patrick Street car ban
Cars will be banned from Cork's Patrick Street, while MacCurtain Street will revert back to a two-way system under new plans by the city council, today's Evening Echo reports.
City councillors were briefed last night by consultants who have prepared the new City Centre Movement Strategy designed to improve traffic flow through Cork.
Under the proposals, only buses, taxis and cyclists would be allowed on Patrick Street during a certain period of the day — with cars allowed back onto the street in the evening. MacCurtain Street will become a two-way system with cars allowed to drive up Brian Boru Street and turn left onto MacCurtain Street at the Coliseum and then turn down ontobrBridge Street before continuing along the quays.
Some of the report’s other recommendations include:
Changing MacCurtain Street, Bridge Street and Brian Ború Street from one-way operation to two-way operation.
Replacing the existing two lanes westbound and one lane eastbound on Merchant’s Quay with two lanes eastbound and one lane westbound.
Replacing one of the lanes on the South Mall with a bus-only lane.
Remove two westbound traffic lanes on Terence MacSwiney Quay in front of City Hall and replace them with one eastbound traffic lane.
The changes are expected to take place on a phased basis over five years with the restrictions to St Patrick Street in the first phase. City councillor Des Cahill said the changes being proposed are significant and urged officials to put the proposals on display in the city centre over Christmas to maximise the public’s awareness of the plans.
Consultation with the public and businesses is expected to take place in December before the recommendations of the plan are finalised in January.
