New bus stops for Cork City as MacCurtain Street officially opens for two-way traffic
Protesters disrupted the speech of Minister Micheal Martin at the official opening of the re-vamped MacCurtain Street, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins
From tomorrow, new 24-hour bus lanes will come into effect on one of Cork's busiest streets.
Two-way traffic has already started on MacCurtain Street as part of the MacCurtain Street Public Transport Improvement Scheme, a multi-million euro revamp project to deliver cycling and pedestrian connectivity improvements, road surfacing and signalised junction upgrades.
Traffic management changes have also been made along Anderson’s Quay, Camden Quay, Penrose Quay, Merchant’s Quay, St. Patrick’s Quay including the Christy Ring Bridge, Lavitt’s Quay, Mulgrave Road, Devonshire Street and Cathedral Walk, as well as Bridge Street and Coburg street areas.
The scheme was officially opened on Saturday by Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Lord Mayor of Cork City Kieran McCarthy.
Mr Martin's speech was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists calling for an end to the hostilities in Gaza.
Members of the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign group were calling for a ceasefire and for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland while the Tánaiste gave his speech shortly before noon.
However, Mr Martin did not stop speaking and continued his speech.
The activists held Palestinian flags and held banners with the sign of "Boycott Apartheid Israel."
The chanting continued when both the Lord Mayor of Cork City and the Tánaiste went to cut the red ribbon at the opening.
Mr McCarthy said MacCurtain Street is "now an important exemplar of a vibrant, diverse, sustainable, green quarter with buses, pedestrians and cyclists making their way in and out of the city, safely and timely".
“MacCurtain Street and its surrounding neighbourhoods are steeped in a rich history, heritage and memory and today we are writing another chapter," he said.
"The opening of this Cork City Council project is an important piece of an evolving story about how we live, work and recreate in a growing Cork City."
The project on the street will see 24-hour bus lanes in operation on MacCurtain Street, Coburg Street, Bridge Street and Cathedral Walk.
A Cork City Council spokesperson said this "will improve bus journey times and allow for two-way bus movements on these streets, making it easier to access local schools and businesses by bus."
For these bus services, the routes will travel from Summerhill North and turn right onto MacCurtain Street and stop at the new westbound bus stop outside York Street.
The right turn from Summerhill North onto MacCurtain Street is for buses only, not for other motorists.
They will then continue westbound on MacCurtain Street and then turn left onto the new contraflow bus lane on Bridge Street - stopping at the new bus stop there.
They will then continue onto St Patrick's Bridge and then onto St Patrick's Street.
Northbound buses will travel from Patrick's Street via Patrick's Bridge and stop at the new bus stop on Bridge Street before continuing onto MacCurtain Street and stopping at the new bus stop beside York Street.
As before, the 207, 207A, 208 and 209 will continue onto Summerhill North, the 214 onto the Lower Glanmire Road, and the 205 and 212 onto Alfred Street.
The southbound routes for these bus services will travel from the N20 to Leitrim Street towards the new sheltered bus stop on Coburg Street.
They will then turn right onto Bridge Street before continuing onto Patrick's Bridget and then onto Patrick's Street.
The northbound routes will then travel from Patrick's Bridge, onto Bridge Street and then turn left onto Coburg Street.
It will then continue onto Devonshire Street and turn right onto the N20.
A new contraflow bus lane has also been provided on Cathedral Walk to facilitate access for the 203 and 215 to Watercourse Road.
