Fermoy earmarked on National Cycle Network plan

A cycle corridor from Cork to Fermoy has been included in the recently published National Cycling Network plan.

Proposals for the link, according to the National Cycle Network (NCN), will see the cycle-way pass through Watergrasshill, which is preferred over Carrignavar due to its integration with the R639 and the number of facilities along this way. Across the two route options, several factors were weighed up, including biodiversity, population and human health, lands and soils, water, air quality, climate change, cultural heritage and landscape.

Ballinterry, located outside Rathcormac, is also named in the plan, where the entire 4km route corridor will traverse the Blackwater River.

According to the NCN plan, the Waterford to Kerry route will also traverse via Mallow and Fermoy, including the suggested expansion of the network to include the planned greenway extension west from Mallow, connecting Dungarvan to Mallow.

In addition to the Cork-Fermoy link, plans have also been outlined for the following corridors: Cork to Waterford, Limerick to Cork, as well as Limerick to Waterford via Cahir.

The publication of the plan was welcomed last week by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, when it was launched at the Grand Canal Greenway, an 11km stretch from Alymers Bridge to Sallins, Co Kildare.

“It is great to launch this plan today here along the Grand Canal Greenway, because it shows that we are already well on the way to developing this new visionary national cycling network, with plans also underway to fast-track delivery of a further 1,000km of cycle routes by 2030.”

“This National

Cycling Network will act as a core spine, connecting towns, cities and destinations across the country with safe, segregated cycling infrastructure wherever feasible. I think this will really help to encourage cycling confidence and in turn, the number of trips taken by both walking and cycling amongst locals, leisure users and tourists alike,” Minister Ryan said.

Set out within the NCN plan is 3,500km of safe, high quality and inviting cycle routes, linking over 200 cities, towns and villages and up to 2.8 million people nationally.

The NCN is composed of 85 corridors, integrating existing and planned greenways and other cycling infrastructure such as the Eurovelo routes, as well as an extensive new network of safe cycle routes along existing roads. It will also link to destinations such as transport hubs, centres of education, employment, leisure and tourist destinations, making it easier and safer for people throughout the country to choose cycling as part of their daily activities. The aim is that 80% of households and nearly 90% of jobs will be located within 5km of the network.

Implementation of the NCN will be on a phased basis and it is envisaged that approximately 1,000km of the plan (28% of the network) will be implemented by the end of 2030, as part of Phases 1 and 2. Phase 3 will be implemented between 2031 and 2040.