The final links of the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme will open today, marking a significant milestone in the development of Cork's transportation infrastructure.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin will officially open the new €215 million road network.
The Dunkettle Interchange is the junction of four national roads, the M8 Cork - Dublin Motorway, the N25 Cork - Waterford / Rosslare route, the N40 Cork South Ring Road and the N8 Dunkettle - Cork city National Route.
Motorists will now be able to use the final two link roads, Link C and Link P which connect the N25 Westbound and Little Island to the M8 Northbound.
The €215m project promises to alleviate congestion, improve safety, and streamline traffic flow for the region's residents and businesses.
Advance works, including archaeological and ground investigations, got underway in 2016, the main construction contract was awarded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to John Sisk & Son Ltd in October 2020.
The project included 18 new road links totalling 10km in length; seven new bridges as well as upgrade works carried out on five pre-existing structures; and upgrades and resurfacing works to the N25 road between Tivoli Roundabout and the Little Island Interchange.
Furthermore, 2.9km of new walkways and cycleways have been developed including a new bridge across the Cork-Midleton railway lin, and intelligent Transport Systems throughout the upgraded Interchange.
Traffic volumes through the Dunkettle interchange are at an all-time high at almost 120,000 vehicles on its busist days.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland reports that journey times during peak hours have reduced by almost 50% on average as a result of this upgrade project.
Journey time savings of almost 60% are being achieved on the N40 to N25 route during peak hours, whilst time savings of over 50% are being achieved on routes accessed via the M8 Southbound.
The contract for the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme includes a 3-year maintenance period which will run until 2027.
In addition to environmental monitoring and landscaping management, this will also include an ongoing focus on monitoring traffic flows through the network.
For more information, visit www.dunkettle.ie.
