Dunkettle Interchange

The Dunkettle Interchange is a major road junction in east Cork City, Ireland forming a junction between the M8, N25 and the N40. The junction is currently a 4 arm signalised junction with a flyover, allowing traffic travelling in an east–west axis to avoid having to use the roundabout. On average, 95,000 vehicles use the junction on a daily basis. A major further civil engineerig upgrade to make the interchange work on a freeflow basis is being undertaken with an estimated completion date of 2022, with Sisk as the contractor[1].

Dunkettle interchange
Location
Cork City, Ireland
Coordinates51.904619°N 8.387997°W / 51.904619; -8.387997
Roads at
junction
M8 * N40 * N25
Construction
Opened1992 (1992)

History

The Dunkettle Interchange was constructed in order to link the N25 to the newly constructed Glanmire bypass which formed part of the N8 at Dunkettle. The junction opened in 1992 along with the Glanmire bypass. At the time, the junction had 3 arms, along with two access sliproads to allow access to and from Glounthaune.

The next significant upgrade came in 1999. In the order to facilitate the opening of the new Jack Lynch Tunnel, a 4th arm heading southbound was added. At the same time, the present flyover of the roundabout was added in anticipation of increased traffic levels. Access slip roads into and out of Little Island were also added along with access to the tunnel management building.

A further upgrade was completed in 2006. This involved installing traffic lights on the roundabout in order to increase the capacity of the junction.

Due to the volumes of traffic using the junction on a daily basis, the National Roads Authority and Cork County Council decided that the junction is unfit for purpose. Jacobs Engineering Ireland Limited was appointed by the NRA to create plans to make the junction freeflow in all movements. On 5 June 2011, the NRA presented five different solutions to create a free flow junction.[2] On May 16, 2013, a scheme was approved by the planning board.[3][4][5]

Future

In September 2015, a new Capital Investment Plan was unveiled by the Government, which secured funding for the interchange. It is hoped to have it completed by around 2022 and Sisk was selected by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) as contractor in July 2018.[6][7]

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References
  1. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/construction/builder-sisk-reports-profit-jump-of-73-to-24-7m-for-2017-1.3544316
  2. http://www.examiner.ie/breakingnews/ireland/100m-plan-to-end-cork-traffic-nightmare-500164.html
  3. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/100m-dunkettle-interchange-project-given-green-light-231374.html
  4. O’Riordan, Sean (6 March 2015). "'No funds' for easing Cork tunnel gridlock". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  5. English, Eoin (8 July 2015). "'Focus on road projects that can support recovery'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  6. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/capital-investment-plan-2016-2021-the-main-points-1.2371783
  7. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/construction/builder-sisk-reports-profit-jump-of-73-to-24-7m-for-2017-1.3544316


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