NEWS
Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme - Official Opening - 12th of February 2024
The Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme was officially opened by An Tánaiste, Micheál Martin TD, marking a significant milestone in enhancing transportation infrastructure and connectivity in Cork. The €215m project promises to alleviate congestion, improve safety, and streamline traffic flow for the region's residents and businesses. Link C and Link P, the final remaining links on the Project, were opened to traffic on Monday the 12th of February 2024 and this marked Substantial Completion on the Project.
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. The Interchange is located approximately 5 kilometres east of Cork City centre and lies mainly within the Cork City Council administrative area.
Whilst advance works including archaeological and ground investigations got underway in 2016, the main construction contract was awarded to John Sisk & Son Ltd. in October 2020. The project has delivered 18 new road links totalling 10km in length; 7 new bridge structures 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. In addition, 2.9km of new walkways and cycleways have been developed including the provision of a new bridge across the Cork-Midleton railway line; Intelligent Transport Systems throughout the upgraded Interchange; and installation of new culverts and pollution control facilities, landscaping works, directional signage, safety barriers, etc.
Traffic volumes through the Dunkettle interchange are at an all-time high, approaching 120,000 vehicles on the busier days of the week. Despite this, 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.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, said: “The new Interchange stands as an important additional piece in the strategic transport infrastructure in metropolitan Cork. This year marks 25 years since the Jack Lynch Tunnel opened, which in its day was seen as an engineering feat. The new interchange is also an engineering feat and adds to the adjacent tunnel's story and narratives. In our time, the removal of critical bottlenecks creates better traffic flows but also greater connectivity between communities on either side of the River Lee's estuary. The enhanced connectivity facilitated by this project will undoubtedly fuel progress and opportunity for generations to come.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD said: "I’m delighted to officially open the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme today. This infrastructure project represents a significant investment in Cork's future and provides a vital link in the region's transport network. I believe that it will be a catalyst for enhancing economic and social activity right across Cork and the entire Munster region.”
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn said: “The completion of this project is a significant milestone in the development of the southern region. Cork County Council will be working closely with our colleagues in Cork City Council to build on the work done at Dunkettle in terms of active travel infrastructure and deliver further enhancements both east and west of the interchange. The Dunkettle interchange works also support the Council's ambition of developing sustainable travel modes by facilitating safe pedestrian and cyclist mobility in the context of the ongoing development of the Eastern Metropolitan Active Travel Corridor which it is planned will extend to Midleton in the near future. These initiatives make it a particularly exciting time in terms of quality of life improvements for the people of Cork.”
Peter Walsh, Chief Executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, said: “The Dunkettle Project completion marks the culmination of a journey that has been ten years in the making. Planning permission for the scheme was first received in 2013, and ongoing close collaboration between the Government, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, John Sisk & Son Ltd. and Jacobs allowed the project to move forward. It was delivered through innovation and commitment by the entire project team and with the support and patience of the public.”
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.
The photograph below shows Peter Walsh, Chief Executive, Transport Infrastructure Ireland; Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment; Valerie O'Sullivan, Chief Executive, Cork County Council; Cllr Frank O'Flynn, Mayor of The County of Cork; Tánaiste Mícheál Martin TD; Cllr Kieran McCarthy, Lord Mayor of Cork; Ann Doherty, Chief Executive, Cork City Council, and Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Finance, pictured at the official opening of the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme.
Click on the image below to access further photos of the Dunkettle Interchange.
Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme - Road Link Opening - 12th September 2023
Link D (Northbound), the new N40 (Jack Lynch Tunnel) to M8 (Dublin) northbound free flow link road was opened to traffic on the night of Tuesday 12th September 2023.
Click on the image below for further explanatory photographs.
Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme - Road Links Opening Sunday 09th of July 2023
A number of new link roads opened Sunday morning the 09th of July 2023. The link roads are shown coloured red on the layout plan below.
Click on the image below to see layout plans of each of the new movements as a result of these link openings.
Traffic routes which have changed as a result of these link openings are summarised as follows:
- N40 Northbound to N25 / N8 Westbound to Cork City Centre (Link B)
- N8, Lower Glanmire Road / N25 Eastbound to the Tunnel (Link F)
- M8 Southbound to the Tunnel (Link D)
- M8 Southbound to N25 / N8 Westbound, Cork City Centre (Link M).
- N25 Westbound to the Tunnel (Link K)
- N25 Westbound to M8 Northbound
- Little Island to the Tunnel (Link L)
- N25 Westbound to Little Island (West) (Link J)
- Little Island to N8 Westbound, Cork City Centre, Lower Glanmire Road (Link M)
- Little Island to M8 Northbound (Link M)
Click on the image above to see layout plans of each of the new movements as a result of these link openings.
A video is provided showing the arrangement for each the new movements at the Dunkettle YouTube page:
Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme - Road Links Opening - 07th - 09th of July 2023
A number of new road links will open on the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme before 10am on next Sunday the 9th July 2023. The links to be opened are shown coloured red on the layout plan below.
Click here to see layout plans of the new movements after the Link openings this weekend.
A video is provided showing the new arrangement for each of the new Link roads at the Dunkettle YouTube page:
https://www.youtube.com/@dunkettleupgrade7960
- Link B will provide a new free-flow link for traffic on the N40 Northbound wishing to access the N25/N8 Westbound towards Cork City Centre.
- Link F will provide a new free-flow link for N8/N25 Eastbound traffic wishing to access the Jack Lynch Tunnel.
- Link J will accommodate N25 Westbound traffic wishing to access Little Island. This link will provide a 2nd access to Little Island and will be particularly useful for businesses located in the western section of Little Island.
- Link K will provide a new free-flow link for N25 Westbound traffic wishing to access the Jack Lynch Tunnel.
- Link L will provide access to Link K from Little Island and will cater for Little Island traffic wishing to access the Jack Lynch Tunnel.
- Link M will accommodate Little Island traffic wishing to access the N25 Westbound. Link M will also form part of the new access route for Southbound traffic on the M8 wishing to access Cork City Centre via the N8.
In order to open the multiple link road openings, it will be necessary to divert traffic on the N25 westbound wishing to head to the M8 northbound / Dublin, via the Tivoli / Glanmire Roundabout and free-flow Link U. This temporary diversion will be in place from Friday morning, the 7th of July 2023, at 05:00. This temporary arrangement will be in place until Link C opens to traffic later in 2023.
In the short-term after the Links opening, Link M will also temporarily accommodate Little Island traffic wishing to access the M8 Northbound. This route will be facilitated by the Tivoli / Glanmire Roundabout and free-flow Link U. This temporary arrangement will be in place until Link C and Link P opens to traffic later in 2023.
The Links opening effectively have to take place on a Sunday. This is due to the fact that the significant enabling works required immediately prior to opening are best progressed via 24-hour weekend working – this approach is taken to minimise unavoidable disruption to traffic flow while these enabling works are being progressed.
As part of the link opening on Sunday the 09th July 2023, the majority of the traffic lights at the Interchange Roundabout will be removed. The only exception under this heading is that the light at the northwest corner of the Interchange Roundabout will remain in place for a number of months – this light is required to facilitate access to the works areas as we complete the remaining links on the Project. The traffic light will operate on an on-demand basis during off-peak hours only – no traffic lights will be operational during peak times. We expect that this on-demand light will remain in place until November 2023.
In order to facilitate enabling works prior to the link openings, it will be necessary to permanently close the R623, shown coloured orange on the first layout plan above, at approximately 8pm on the evening of Thursday the 06th July 2023. Following on from this closure and until the new links are opened on the morning of Sunday the 09th July 2023, Little Island traffic wishing to access either the Jack Lynch Tunnel, the City Centre and the M8 via the N25 should use the Little Island Interchange.
We are working closely with our Contractor, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd., in relation to the upcoming weekend works. Our expectation is that the opening of the links on Sunday the 09th July 2023 will facilitate us in bringing the Scheme to Substantial Completion, i.e. in getting all remaining links open before the end of 2023.
In the short term, however, motorists should certainly plan ahead for any travel plans associated with the Dunkettle Interchange over this coming weekend, while the link opening enabling works are being progressed. Similar forward planning is also advised as the new layout becomes established during week commencing Monday the 10th of July 2023. The Project Team will be monitoring all changes live and will adjust plans as may be required to minimise the traffic impact - there will, however, be an impact on traffic given the scale of what is being put in place at Dunkettle over the coming days.
The Link openings next Sunday will be followed by an intensive period of online working in various areas of the site associated with the opening of the remaining links. Details of arrangements associated with these works will be publicised in advance in the normal way.
We are, however, asking motorists to pay particular attention to posted speed limits over the coming period as the new layout becomes established (speed control measures will be in place over the coming weeks) and to pay particular attention to the temporary and permanent directional signage given the extent of the changes that are being implemented.
If you have any queries or comments in relation to the works, please contact the Construction Team on [email protected]. Also, visitors are welcome to the site office at Inchera at any time between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday – no advance appointment required.
A video is provided showing the new arrangement for each of the new Link roads at the Dunkettle YouTube page:
N25 Westbound Closure - Friday 21st April 2023 to Saturday 22nd April 2023
The N25 westbound was closed from 7:30pm on Friday 21st April 2023 to facilitate the bridge deck waterproofing works at Structures ST14 & ST15.
The road reopened to traffic at 6.30pm on Saturday 22nd April 2023 a couple of hours ahead of schedule.
The main diversion route via the Jack Lynch Tunnel, N40 and the Cork City South Ring Road for the N25 and the M8 traffic. Traffic approaching from the N40 and the N28 diverted via the Kinsale Road Roundabout and the Cork City South Ring Road.
The works were carried out under night time and weekend working in order to minimise the disruption to traffic. However, additional time was advised for journeys in the works area on Saturday afternoon in particular.
Click on the image below to access further explanatory images of the road closure.
Dunkettle Interchange Road Link Opening - 10th of February 2023
On Friday the 10th of February, a new access route will open to the N25 Eastbound from Glanmire, Glounthaune and Little Island.
Link I will give access from the the Bury's Bridge Roundabout (L3004 & L2998) and the R623 Roundabout via the new northern roundabout as highlighted below.
Click on the image below to access further explanatory images of the new route.
R623 Slip Road Closure
The Tunnel Management Building slip road, to the R623 (shown coloured red in the layout plan below), off the N40 southbound at the Dunkettle Interchange will close permanently at 10:00am on Thursday 24th November 2022.
Click on the image below to find the alternative routes to the R623 and Little Island from the N40 Northbound, the M8 Southbound and the N8 Eastbound.
For N25 Westbound traffic, the route into Little Island will continue to be via Junction 2, the Little Island Interchange.
Dunkettle Interchange Road Link Openings - 20th of November 2022
On Sunday 20th November as part of the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade;
- A new one-way route for traffic heading north through the Jack Lynch Tunnel and wishing to access either Little Island or the N25 Eastbound will open. This represents a significant change in alignment and motorists are advised to utilise the left-hand lane of the Jack Lynch Tunnel in order to access the new route (Link A highlighted below).
- Opening of Link A will trigger the immediate closure of the N25 Eastbound merge from the Interchange Roundabout (highlighted in orange below).
- A new one-way route will provide a free-flow Link for southbound traffic on the M8 wishing to head east on the N25 or wishing to access Little Island (Link E highlighted below).
- Traffic utilising Link E will merge with Link A traffic and will then have the option of merging onto the N25 Eastbound or proceeding via a new one-way route to the Northern Roundabout of the new Eastern Interchange, in order to access Little Island – Link G (highlighted below) will facilitate Link A-E traffic wishing to access Little Island.
New Cycleway/Walkway connecting Dunkettle to Little Island Opening - 24th of October 2022
The new north-south route over the N25 incorporates dedicated facilities for both Active and Public Transport consisting of a northbound bus lane south of the N25, and a segregated two-way cycle/pedestrian path, incorporating a new bridge over the railway.
This new section will result in 2.5 kilometres of continuous Active Travel Route delivered as part of the Interchange Upgrade, (highlighted in yellow on the image below).
Ibis Slip Road Permanent Closure - 24th of October 2022
Following on immediately from the opening of the new route over the N25 on the 24th of October, the “Ibis slip road” onto the M8 from the Dunkettle local road network will close.
This will facilitate the completion of the outstanding works on Link E (the new free flow slip road from the M8 to the N25 eastbound). The M8 southbound will then be restored to 2 lanes during November 2022 - exact date will be confirmed in advance
Traffic which previously used the Ibis Slip-road will be diverted over the N25 via the new bridge and along the R623 Regional Road as far as the Dunkettle Interchange Roundabout – see diversion route hereunder. This is an interim arrangement and will be replaced by further road link openings over the coming period.
Dunkettle Interchange Road Link Openings - 24th of October 2022
On Monday 24th October, as part of the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade;
• A new one-way road link will open providing a direct route for outbound traffic heading east on the N8 from Cork City to connect to the L3004 ‘Glanmire to Glounthaune’ Local Road (Link T highlighted below).
• A new two-way road will open at the same time, immediately to the east of the existing Dunkettle Interchange, crossing over the N25 via a new bridge and linking the L3004 ‘Glanmire to Glounthaune’ Local Road to the R623 Regional Road on Little Island. This route also incorporates a two-way segregated cycle and pedestrian path (Link H+Q highlighted below).
• Taken together, the new road links will provide better local connections, reduce traffic volumes on the existing Dunkettle and Little Island Interchanges, and improve access to the west side of Little Island.
Click on the image below to access further explanatory images of the new routes.
M8 Traffic Switch
Traffic was directed over the new Structure ST08 at midday today as planned. The new layout is working well so far but motorists are again reminded to allow extra time for their journey if using the M8 southbound during the AM peak from tomorrow Monday 31st January 2022. The AM peak for Monday 31st January 2022 will be monitored closely with a view to ensuring that any additional delays are minimised. We intend to issue a further brief update at midday tomorrow Monday 31st January.
M8 Traffic Switch
Further to the annoucement below on January 25th 2022, the Ibis slip-road from the Glounthaune-Glanmire Road onto the M8 Southbound has closed as scheduled this morning, and will reopen on February 6th, as part of works to open a new bridge on the Interchange Upgrade over the upcoming weekend. The M8 Southbound lane closure is also now in place from approximately 1.5 kilometres prior to the Interchange. Please take care on approach and expect queues at peak times.
M8 Traffic Switch
As works progress on the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme, regular commuters using the Dunkettle Interchange will observe several changes to the existing layout. In summary, from 10am Thursday the 27th of January 2022, we are proposing to temporarily close the Ibis slip road for a period of just over one week, reduce the M8 southbound to a single lane, open ST08 East, direct M8 northbound traffic over the new structure and then permanently open Link U and Link T. The new arrangement will result in slightly increased delays to M8 southbound traffic during the AM peak until Structure ST01 opens - currently scheduled for Q3 2022. However, every effort will be made to mitigate this delay and the approach proposed has allowed us to bring forward the due completion date by six weeks. Please see the following links for more information on the proposed works.
- Please click HERE to see the upcoming various proposed alignment changes.
- Please click HERE to view the proposed works in more detail.
- Please click HERE which will link you to a viusal overview of the works.
Bury's Bridge Road Closure
With the progression of the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme works, the immediate off-slip for Bury’s bridge heading Eastbound on the N25 will be closed for one year. This road closure is to facilitate the works that are incorporated in constructing a new 81m triple span underbridge that will cross the N25. This closure will be in place from the 29th March 2021 until the early months of 2022. Diversions will be in place where traffic will be redirected along the N25 heading Eastbound and diverge at the Little Island off ramp. The L2998 will remain fully open during this period following the Phase 1 upgrade works.
Information Event at Laya Healthcare, Little Island
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The Dunkettle project team visited Laya Healthcare in Little Island on Wednesday, April 17th for an Information Event regarding the Dunkettle Inerchange project works.
Hosting 75 Laya Healthcare employees, the team provided those who attended with a high level presentation and a live survey, as well as having a question and answer session and the model of the upgrade on display.
The team presented Laya with an update on the project, photographs and maps of the proposed layout of the Interchange and the planned cycle routes through the Interchange.
The aim was to inform those who attended, to open communication lines and to discuss the traffic reduction measures that can be put in place during the course of the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade works. The team explored the options of carpooling, flexi-time and working from home with Laya. Employees at Laya gave the team really positive feedback.
The team are available to host Information Events about the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme to businesses, residents and commuters around the works areas.
If interested, email us at [email protected] to get in contact with the team. |
Dunkettle Live!
To compliment the www.dunkettletraffic.ie website the Dunkettle Live app will soon be released on Android and iOS.
Dunkettle Bake Day in aid of Marymount Hospice
On Thursday the 14th of March, the team from the Dunkettle Site Office ran a Bake Day in aid of Marymount Hospice. We are delighted to have raised €705.56 for Maymount on the day. Congratulations to Steven McGivern who won the hamper, generously donated by Spar in Little Island. A huge Thank You to everyone involved and for all of the generous donations. |
STEPS Programme - Engineers Week 2019
Four of our Engineers from the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade team, Jim McCarthy, Denise McCarthy, Michael Owens and Cathal O’ Connor, were delighted to support Engineers Week Ireland this week. The engineering team was ably assisted by our intern, Aisling McCarthy.
Organised by Engineers Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, Engineers Week celebrates engineering across Ireland. Everybody is invited to get involved and inspire young people around the country to consider a career in engineering.
The team got involved this year by presenting to both primary and secondary schools located near the project works. The following schools were visited by the team;
- 04/03/19 - Glanmire Community College (180 students).
- 05/03/19 - Scoil Inse Rátha, Little Island (60 students).
- 06/03/19 - Scoil Náisiúnta a Chroí Naofa, Glounthaune (250 students).
The team spoke about their individual career paths, gave examples of the projects that they have worked on and completed, various types of engineering and how it is used in every day life, as well as showing the proposed plans for the Dunkettle Interchange upgrade scheme and how it will be beneficial in the future. Our aim was to encourage and to empower the students to follow their own career journeys within engineering and the overall response could not have been any better.
Presenting to almost 500 students this week, they greatly appreciated the insights gained from the personal career pathways to date from the team. We recieved high levels of engagement and interaction from the students throughout these school visits by hosting question and answer sessions after each presentation as well as providing supplies to carry out engineering activities.
Some of the activities carried out included the demonstration of surveying equipment, creating structures out of spaghetti and marshmallows with 5th and 6th class students as well as the demonstration of the Law of the Lever using a toy crane. The team brought hard hats, goggles and overalls for the students to try on.
The team also provided each school with branded pens, rulers, as well as participation certificates for each student. John Sisk & Sons kindly donated ‘curiosity boxes’ for all of the primary schools involved.
Engineers Week Ireland 2019
Four of our Engineers from the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade team, Jim McCarthy, Denise McCarthy, Michael Owens and Cathal O’ Connor, were delighted to support Engineers Week Ireland this week. The engineering team was ably assisted by our intern, Aisling McCarthy.
Organised by Engineers Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, Engineers Week celebrates engineering across Ireland. Everybody is invited to get involved and inspire young people around the country to consider a career in engineering.
The team got involved this year by presenting to both primary and secondary schools located near the project works. The following schools were visited by the team;
- 04/03/19 - Glanmire Community College (180 students).
- 05/03/19 - Scoil Inse Rátha, Little Island (60 students).
- 06/03/19 - Scoil Náisiúnta a Chroí Naofa, Glounthaune (250 students).
The team spoke about their individual career paths, gave examples of the projects that they have worked on and completed, various types of engineering and how it is used in every day life, as well as showing the proposed plans for the Dunkettle Interchange upgrade scheme and how it will be beneficial in the future. Our aim was to encourage and to empower the students to follow their own career journeys within engineering and the overall response could not have been any better.
Presenting to almost 500 students this week, they greatly appreciated the insights gained from the personal career pathways to date from the team. We recieved high levels of engagement and interaction from the students throughout these school visits by hosting question and answer sessions after each presentation as well as providing supplies to carry out engineering activities.
Some of the activities carried out included the demonstration of surveying equipment, creating structures out of spaghetti and marshmallows with 5th and 6th class students as well as the demonstration of the Law of the Lever using a toy crane. The team brought hard hats, goggles and overalls for the students to try on.
The team also provided each school with branded pens, rulers, as well as participation certificates for each student. John Sisk & Sons kindly donated ‘curiosity boxes’ for all of the primary schools involved.