Campaigners welcome construction of new bridge that will leave Tramore Valley Park less isolated
The access bridge from Frankfield/Grange was given the green light five years ago. Construction will start next week.
Construction of a third pedestrian and cycle route to Tramore Valley Park has been welcomed by campaigners who have long highlighted the poor access to the city park.
When it opens early next year, a new bridge and path will connect Tramore Valley Park with Grange and Frankfield on the south side of the city.
“There’s a master plan for Tramore Valley Park that goes back to 2011, 2012 that’s a work of art,“ said Conn Donovan, chair of Cork Cycling Campaign. However, he added that the 160-acre park has been let down by access routes.
When the Tramore Valley Park first opened, there was only one pedestrian and cycle path into the park, via a path from west Douglas that stretches two kilometres and runs parallel to the South Ring road (N40). The other main route to the park is via an access road coming from the South Link road.
During the pandemic, work began on another access route to Tramore Valley Park via Half Moon Lane on the South Douglas Road. That has since been completed.
"Before the Half Moon Lane gate opened the only way to walk or cycle into the park was to go over to Douglas village,” Mr Donovan said.
Clearing work will begin for the new path this week with construction to follow and it’s expected the access route will be finished sometime early next year.
Mr Donovan said the Grange access route has been in the “pipeline since 2017”.
“It shows you how long it takes to get a scheme over the line.”
Douglas, Grange and Frankfield has a population of around 27,000.
However, according to Mr Donovan there is still one more part of the Tramore Valley Park ‘access jigsaw’ to be completed and that’s a pedestrian and cycle way coming from Togher, Black Ash and the south west of the city.
“The only one that’s left then is the route in from Harvey Norman,” Donovan said, explaining that there is a greenway that stretches from the retailer’s back to Togher, but that it doesn’t yet link up with Tramore Valley Park.
“It’s the only bit that’s missing,” said Mr Donovan. Completing it would be “a huge win” as it would allow people in Togher and even Bishopstown to access the park without the use of a car.
Mr Donovan said there are a substantial amount of households in the city that don’t own a car. Up until the Half Moon Lane gate was completed anyone in Turner’s Cross accessing Tramore Valley Park without a car, would have had to walk, cycle or take public transport to Douglas and then walk the two kilometres into the park.
“I don’t know how they approved the park without having better access. It really seems to be an oversight that beggars belief,” he added.
Cork City Council said that once completed the new access route from Grange will consist of a “four metre wide pathway and will also support people with mobility needs and will include environmentally sensitive public lighting.”
Site clearance will involve the removal of some trees but the council will undertake a “native tree planting programme” and trees will also be offered to local community groups.
