[Leading Cork to take its place as a World Class City] __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Curraheen Walk and Cycleway Upgrade
The Carrigrohane to Curraheen Walk and Cycleway Upgrade Project was undertaken to improve the safety and comfort of the walkway, to encourage sustainable transport and increase commuter usage along the 4.4km route, which runs alongside the course of the Twopot and Curraheen Rivers in Bishopstown. Works were carried out by contractor McGinty & O’Shea. Some of the major featu res of the €900,000 upgrade works are: • Installation of energy efficient LED public lighting along the full route with light levels varying during the night. • Repair of damaged surfacing and overlay of much the surface between Model Farm Road and Carrigrohane Road. • Realignment and provision of paving and lighting on the link between the walkway and the IDA Park on Model Farm Road. • Installation of cycle repair stations near entrances to IDA and MTU. • New directional fingerposts with average walking and cycle time to destinations and timber posts with colour coded distance markers and behavioural signage. • Installation of additional age friendly seating. • Repair of existing and installation of new handrailing where necessary. • Removal of the ‘kissing gate’ on the bridge towards the Carrigrohane end of the route, which had previously been an obstruction for cyclists. Through community engagement, Cork City Council facilitated the establishment of the Bishopstown Otter Trail by the Cork Nature Network – this is a sequence of four information signs being installed between Murphy’s Farm and Rossbrook Estate on Model Farm Road. Also, in conjunction with Bishopstown Tidy Towns and their consulting ecologist, some fallen trees creating obstructions to the flow of the Curraheen River were removed. Others were retained to maintain river crossing points for wildlife, maintain in-river habitats, help with flood attenuation, and protect against new riverbank erosion. Extending from the Curraheen Road at the southern end to the Carrigrohane Road at the northern end, joining Model Farm Road along the way, the route passes alongside amenities such as Murphy’s Farm, Bishopstown playground, Bishopstown Community Garden, Bishopstown Pitch and Putt Club and the Lee Fields. The upgrading of the surface and provision of lighting along entire 4.4km route provides a pleasant off road active travel route particularly over the winter months for commuters attending college in MTU, working in the IDA Park or from residents to access into the city centre.
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