Residents are being invited to submit their views on a proposed €3.5 million pedestrian and cycle bridge in Cork.

The structure opposite Harley Street will link Merchants Quay to St Patrick's Quay and provide easier access between the city centre, Mc Curtain Street and Kent Station.

Further plans includes installing improved paving on Harley Street and St Patrick's Quay, at a later stage. The Metropole Hotel, which is due to undergo a €50m refurbishment including the development of a new adjoining hotel, backs on to St Patrick's Quay.

With more than €5m already spent on the Kent Station to city centre improvement project, the council said the bridge will "add another dimension" to public realm improvements in the area.

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Cork City Council Senior Executive Engineer, John Stapleton said the bridge will bring social, transportation, recreational, and economic benefits to the city.

"The construction of the bridge aims to provide improved pedestrian access and make the city more cycle-friendly with particular benefits for travel between Kent Station & McCurtain Street on the northern side of the channel and Parnell Place, the city centre & the bus station on the southern side," he said.

"It fits sympathetically into the surrounding quays, buildings and urban realm and will provide a convenient and accessible link across the river with minimal visual intrusion on the river vista or river channel."

Subject to planning approval,- detailed design will take place in the coming months with construction scheduled to commence in early 2018.

Full details of the proposed bridge will be available for inspection for the next six weeks at City Hall from 9- 4pm Monday to Friday until Tuesday, 22 August.

(LM/MH)