Mill Culvert Upgrade Project

Introduction 

In addition to the Bantry Flood Relief Scheme, Cork County Council are currently progressing a project to upgrade the existing Mill River Culvert. Though separate from the Bantry Flood Relief Scheme, the two project teams are working closely together, collaborating, and sharing information to ensure the objectives of both projects align. The Mill Culvert Upgrade Project (MCUP) is being advanced by Cork County Council. This project involves the replacement of the existing culvert in the town, due to asset degradation. 

Planning

Planning for the proposed Mill Culvert Upgrade Project was granted in February 2025.

Design

The existing culvert from the library to the Square is predominantly a stone arch culvert system. The culvert also includes a number of connections to the storm and foul system. It has been established that there are both hydraulic capacity issues and longevity concerns with the structural integrity of the culvert. The new culvert will be bigger and more hydraulically efficient than the existing culvert, and there will be some additional capacity within the culvert during flood events, but the main objective is to replace a deteriorating structure. Consultants were appointed in October 2025 to progress the detailed design.

General Queries 

Any queries relating to the Mill Culvert Upgrade Project can be submitted to the following address: 

Countyengineers@corkcoco.ie