Construction of the final wearing course is being progressed on a number of Links at present including Link M and Link J – see photograph below.
Upcoming Pavement works on Link M
Similarly, safety barriers are being erected across multiple areas of the site at present – see photograph below.
Safety Barrier works at Link J
A number of new road links will open in 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 above – each summary has an accompanying explanatory video, showing the new arrangement, on our YouTube page (www.youtube.com/@dunkettleupgrade7960) and these videos will be updated as the works are progressed over the coming week.
• 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 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 open to traffic later in 2023.
The Links opening effectively has 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 9th 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 – see location below.
Traffic light remaining on-demand during off peak hours.
In order to facilitate enabling works prior to Link opening, it will be necessary to permanently close the R623 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 or the City Centre via the N8 should use the Little Island Interchange – see photograph and diversion route below.
R623 & N25 Westbound Diverge Access to DKI Rdbt – PERMANENT CLOSURE – 20:00 THURSDAY 6th July 2023
R623 & N25 Westbound Diverge Access to DKI Rdbt – DIVERSION ROUTE – 20:00 THURSDAY 6th July to 10:00 SUNDAY 9th 2023
We are working closely with our Contractor, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd., in relation to the upcoming weekend works. Our expectation is that opening of the links on Sunday the 9th 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 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 changes 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 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 roadconstruction@ccc-site.com. Also, visitors are welcome to the site office at Inchera at any time between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday – no advance appointment required. For more information, please visit our Project website: www.dunkettle.ie/news
In association with the link opening on Sunday the 9th July 2023, we will issue daily updates in relation to the ongoing works over the coming days. The updates will issue as close as possible to 12pm each day. After the link opening event, we will be preparing updated videos showing traffic flow with the new alignment and these will be issued with a progress update in the early days of next week.
