Mahon Update Feb 2025

MAHON STREET RENEWAL SCHEME

PROJECT UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2025

Quietway – Loughmahon Park

Table of Contents

Project Details ……………………………………….

Construction Phases ……………………………..

Progress to Date ……………………………….......

Upcoming Traffic Management Arrangements ……………………

Video Footage ……………………………………….

Scheme Photographs……………………............ 16

1. Project Details

Construction works are continuing on the Mahon Street Renewal Scheme, Cork’s first community wide streetscape renewal programme aimed at providing improved streets which are safer and provide multi-modal connected links to schools, shops, sport and leisure within the Mahon area. The 6km long scheme includes Ringmahon Road, Skehard Road, Avenue de Rennes, Ballinure Avenue/The Maples and Castle Road. It also includes a “quiet - way” from Castle Park to Ashwood via Loughmahon Park along Lakeland Crescent and Mahon Drive. The quiet-way links to the Blackrock to Passage Greenway via Sean Cronin Park and also links to the Lower Harbour Greenway. This multi-million Euro investment in the Mahon area is funded by the National Transport Authority, and will deliver:

New, wider footpaths and new bus shelters;

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▪ New, modern public lighting across the scheme, including Castle Road;

▪ Two new pedestrian crossings providing safe access to the new 1 km quiet-way that links Ashwood to Castle Park;

Upgrades to existing pedestrian crossings;

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▪ Three new signalised junctions at Ringmahon Road/Skehard Road, Ringmahon Road/Avenue de Rennes and Skehard Road/Avenue de Rennes, allowing safe crossing facilities for all users; ▪ New traffic calming measures such as narrow roadways, new road markings and signage, which will reduce traffic speeds and create a safer environment for all; ▪ Enhanced public open spaces with seating and extensive landscaping including trees, shrubs and plants to create more pleasant and biodiversity-friendly open spaces;

▪ Planting of two hundred trees including specially selected semi-mature street trees; &

▪ Installation of safe cycling infrastructure, including segregated cycle tracks and greenways. The above measures will enhance the attractiveness of the streets while also making them safer and more convenient for Mahon residents and school children, commuters and people doing business in the area.

2. Construction Phases Our contractors McGinty & O'Shea Ltd. began construction in January 2024 with planned completion in mid 2025. The project will be completed in phases to limit the impact of construction on the community in any particular area. The image below reflects the contractor’s programme as to when works are intended to commence and how they are progressing in the relevant local area.

Section 5 of this report provides scheme photographs of the works that are now close to completion.

3. Progress to Date Bus Stops:

12 new bus shelters have been installed across the project. A number of these are open to the public, however some minor works, such as connecting power for the bus shelter and surrounding paving works, are required on the remaining bus stops before they can be open for use. Public Lighting: We are in the process of installing a new public lighting system throughout the area. The existing lighting columns will be left in place until the new system is fully operational. When the new public lighting system is installed and turned on, the old lighting columns will be removed. The new lighting columns will be located at the back of footpath, leaving both the footpaths and cycle tracks free of obstruction. Landscaping: Topsoiling works are ongoing as the construction works progress. The majority of planting can only be done at specific times in the year. This means that while construction might be complete in a particular area, the contractor will have to return to that area at a suitable time in the year to undertake the landscaping and planting designed for that area. The work associated with the planting of new trees has commenced and will continue over the planting season up to March 2025.

Ballinure Ave/The Maples: Works in this area are almost complete. New drainage, ducting for services and street lighting, footpaths, kerbs and segregated cycle tracks have now been installed, in addition to new road surfacing and topsoiling for the full length of the road. The red high friction surfacing along the road-level cycle track and the traffic calming speed ramps have now been completed. The provision of steps from Ballinure Avenue to the car park at St. Michael’s Cemetery has been completed. Works remaining in this area comprise the removal of the old public lighting system, and the installation of road signs and refuse bins. Tree planting will be undertaken between February and March 2025 as the planting season has now commenced, along with ornamental shrubs and bulb planting at the appropriate. times.

Ringmahon Road East (Skehard Rd Junction to Castle Rd Junction):

Works in the area are almost complete. New drainage, ducting for services and street lighting, footpaths, kerbs, bus shelters and segregated cycle tracks have now been installed, in addition to new road surfacing and topsoiling for the full length of this section of Ringmahon Road. The red high-friction surfacing along the road-level cycle track is laid and the power to the new pedestrian crossing at the entrance to Castle Park is now on. Works remaining in this area comprise the removal of the old public lighting system. The new bus shelters along this section will be connected to an ESB power supply soon and tree planting will commence at the end of February 2025 when weather conditions permit.

Ringmahon Road North (Castle Rd Junction to Convent Road Junction):

Works in this area are ongoing. New drainage, ducting for services and street lighting, footpaths, kerbs and segregated cycle tracks have been installed. Works are almost complete on this section of Ringmahon Road between the junctions with Castle Road and Convent Road. Most works associated with footpaths, cycle kerbs, road surfacing and lining have been completed on this section. The red-coloured surfacing has been completed for the raised cycle tracks, but high friction surfacing is yet to be completed on the roadside cycle lanes. Additionally, new road signs, new public lighting and refuse bins will be delivered early-mid 2025. While new traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Avenue de Renne, these will not be switched on until mid 2025. The pedestrian/cycle crossing at the junction of Convent Road is now installed and operational. The new bus shelters at this location have also been installed. The provision of red surfacing on the remaining roadside cycle lanes will be completed during a suitable weather window.

Quiet-way (Castle Park to Sean Cronin Park): The quiet-way comprises a wide shared path through both Loughmahon & Sean Cronin park, shared surface areas, controlled crossings and segregated cycle tracks. The 1km link has been substantially completed at this stage, aside from the section through Sean Cronin Park, which commenced in early 2025 and has recently been surfaced. Works on the shared surface areas have been completed, and new public lighting has been installed up to Ringmahon Road. Landscaping works are still ongoing in Ashwood on the east section of the greenway. Works associated with tree planting have commenced and will continue through to March 2025. The route provides a quiet route for cyclists and pedestrians through Loughmahon Park, Lakeland Crescent, Mahon Drive, Ashwood and Sean Cronin Park and ultimately, will allow users to connect to the Blackrock-Passage Greenway. Works on Mahon drive are substantially complete pending public lighting and works at the junction with Avenue de Renne. Works have also been completed on the controlled crossings forming part of the Quiet Route which traverses Ringmahon Road and Avenue de Renne. On Lakeland Crescent, resurfacing has been completed, colourful bollards have been installed at the school entrance and works have now been substantially completed on the parking areas & footpaths on the northside of the street.

Avenue de Rennes: Construction on the east side of Avenue de Rennes is ongoing but close to substantial completion. We are providing new footpaths with high-quality paving, a segregated 2-way cycle track and new public lighting. Colorful bollards have now been installed at the entrance to Scoil na Croise Naofa and works to provide the new Protected Junction arrangement with Ringmahon Road are ongoing. A Protected Junction is a junction where pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles are separated from each other as they move through the junction, making the junction safer for all road users, and particularly for those on bicycles. Works have been completed on the west side on of Avenue de Rennes by Holy Cross Church, where the main entrance to the Church has been widened and access arrangements from the roadway have been improved. Works have also been completed on the Toucan crossing which forms part of the Quiet Route which traverses Avenue de Renne at the junction with Mahon Drive & Lakeland Crescent. The proposed works on the parking/landscaped areas have commenced as has the carriageway re-surfacing between Lakeland Crescent and the junction with Skehard Road. These works were scheduled during the school mid-term break. As the new drainage network, ducting for services and street lighting, footpaths, kerbs and segregated cycle tracks are completed along the remainder of the street, the provision of new road surfacing and landscaping will follow. In particular, ornamental landscaping will be provided at several locations. Tree planting will commence at the end of February 2025.

Ringmahon Road West (Convent Road Junction to Skehard Road Junction):

Works are now substantially complete on this section of the scheme. New footpaths, cycle lane kerbing, drainage, public lighting and carriageway resurfacing have been completed. The existing berm between the carriageway and Sean Cronin park has been relocated slightly west to make space for the new street cross-section. The controlled crossing is now operational and the link through Sean Cronin Park is currently under construction. Remaining works include the high friction surfacing of the cycle lanes and ancillary works such as bollards and signage. The proposed signalised junction with Skehard Road will be completed as part of the programmed works on Skehard Road in early-mid 2025.

Skehard Road: Construction of a 2-way cycle track and footpath on the southern verge of the east side of Skehard Road between the junction of Ballinure Avenue and Ringmahon Road/Estuary Drive was undertaken earlier this year. New lining has now been provided on the cycle track and footpath. The old public lighting system has been removed as the new system has now been activated. Works have progressed on the continuation of the two-way cycle track, footpaths and bus shelters on the south side of Skehard Road between the junctions of Ringmahon Road (West) and Ballinure Avenue. The facilities on the south side of the carriageway between both junctions with Ringmahon Road are now substantially complete. Remaining works include lining, signage and landscaping. Tree planting is due to commence mid-late February 2025. Works have commenced on the north side of the street where new drainage, ducting for services and street lighting, kerbs, a bus shelter and footpaths are being installed. Construction will occur from east to west, and some footpaths, road kerbing and ducting have been completed between Ringmahon Road and Castlemeadows. Once the kerbing, footpaths, drainage and lighting is complete, works on the remaining carriageway resurfacing will commence.

Castle Road: Works at Castle Road have commenced on the east side of the street. New kerbing, ducting, public lighting and footpaths are being constructed. Currently, Castle Road only has public lighting at either end of the street; on approach to the junction with Ringmahon Road and at the junction with Gate Lodge. As part of this scheme, Castle Road will receive renewed footpaths, new public lighting along the length of the street and a new carriageway surface to improve facilities for all users. The existing poles are currently located in the centre of the footpath, reducing passing space for users. The new public lighting columns will be located at the back of path to increase the effective width of the footpath.

4. Upcoming Traffic Management Arrangements

In order to undertake some elements of the construction works, temporary traffic management systems will be required from time to time, in agreement with Cork City Council Traffic Dept. and as described below. We understand that these traffic management restrictions will lead to some disruption for residents and businesses, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Upcoming traffic management arrangements at relevant locations are described in the sections following. Location 1: Skehard Road (Ringmahon Road (East) to Ringmahon Road (West) Junction): Temporary traffic management arrangements are in place at different times to facilitate the works taking place along this section. These will vary as the works progress but will include the following: ▪ Temporary Footpath Closures & Pedestrian Diversions ▪ Periodic or Short Duration Stop/Go Traffic Signs/Lights (2-way or 3-way at junctions) ▪ Short Duration Give & Take Priority System ▪ A Road Closure between Castle Meadows Estate and the junction with Avenue de Rennes. Temporary traffic management and a road closure will be required during early-mid 2025 to complete the works along Skehard Road between the junctions of Ringmahon Road (East) and Ringmahon Road (West), specifically the installation of new drainage, ducting for services, kerbs, footpaths, pedestrian crossings and resurfacing works. For the most part, ‘Road Narrows’ arrangement will be used and supplemented with short duration Stop/Go as required. Resurfacing works which are due to be carried out March 2025 which will require a road closure. The planned works will commence in the first week of March for a duration of 1 week. Local access for residents will be accommodated and details will be communicated to residents and stakeholders affected by any closure in advance of the works commencing.

Location 2: Avenue de Rennes Traffic and pedestrian management measures will be in place while the works are ongoing along this section. These will include temporary footpath closures, pedestrian diversions and periodic Stop/Go operations on the roadway to facilitate footpath works including drainage, ducting, concrete and paving. The resurfacing works on the carriageway from the Junction with Lakeland Crescent to the junction with Skehard Road is currently underway. A road closure and diversion route is in place until 19:00 on 21 st February. These works were scheduled to occue during the school mid-term break. A future road closure will be required to resurface the northern half of Avenue de Rennes. Details will be communicated to residents and stakeholders affected by the closure in advance of the works commencing. Location 3: Lakelands Crescent & Mahon Drive Traffic and pedestrian management measures will be in place while the works are ongoing along this section. These will include temporary footpath closures, pedestrian diversions and periodic Stop/Go operations on the roadway to facilitate the remaining works. The new surfacing has now been completed on Lakeland Crescent. On Mahon Drive, the final section of paving, approaching the junction with Avenue de Renne, is scheduled for completion mid-late February 2025. Details will be communicated to residents and stakeholders affected by the closure in advance of the works commencing. Location 4: Sean Cronin Park Pedestrian management measures will be in place while the works are ongoing along this section of the Quietway. These will include off-road pedestrian diversions when required to facilitate works including drainage, ducting and paving. Location 5: Castle Road Works on Castle Road commenced at the end of January 2025. Temporary traffic management measures are in place throughout the works. These will consist of pedestrian diversions & temporary lane narrowing, including Stop/Go, all of which will be clearly signposted. Access for residents will be maintained at all times.

5. Video Footage Video footage has been undertaken to illustrate the progress of works to date. The following links provides footage of sections of the project which are nearing completion.

Ringmahon Road East (Southbound) – https://vimeo.com/1041130011?share=copy#t=0 Ringmahon Road Plaza – https://vimeo.com/1041130040?share=copy Ringmahon Road East (Northbound) - https://vimeo.com/1041129990?share=copy#t=0 Ballinure Avenue - https://vimeo.com/1041129954?share=copy#t=0

Quietway Footage - https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1040772640

6. Scheme Photographs of Sections Close to Completion

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