Yay though, it's finally happening! Was wondering how long it'd take them to start at Coolcower. Big roundabout out the Millstreet road really starting to take shape too.
On a kinda off topic note, anyone know when that new filling station out the Millstreet road is due to open? Heard there might be a Supermacs or something there too.
They’re after breaking through at Coolcower now, the trees at the the in are being cut down this week.
The downside here is a tailback from Coolcower to the FOUR mile bridge due to the stop go. I’d avoid the N22 at peak times. Looks like 45-60 mins to get through that queue atm.
I drive N25 a lot, and N22, and there’s no competition. N25 has capacity, has good sight-lines and wide, well engineered carriageway, but it has two big bottlenecks (Lakeview roundabout, Castlemartyr bridge) and one minor one (Killeagh). N22 has more traffic, a poorer road for more of its length, worse sightlines, even if there’ll only be one minor bottleneck (Lissarda) after this scheme.
Fixing the problems with N22 really needs a new road. Fixing the problems with N25 in Cork only needs a couple of focused improvements: Lakeview could be solved with a smaller-scale project similar to the roundabout upgrades that were done on N40*. Castlemartyr really only needs a relief road to separate out Cork-Garryvoe and Cork-Waterford streams somewhere better than the narrowest point of the main street, and Killeagh is only a problem eastbound because Castlemartyr bunches traffic into platoons that get held again; westbound, it suffers from commuters right-turning onto the Mogeely road to avoid Castlemartyr. Fixing Castlemartyr would also fix Killeagh.
(* for example, move the start of dual carriageway eastward to a roundabout at the Youghal Road entry to Midleton, and upgrade Lakeview to be a free-flow junction)
I think you're right. There was route selection done AFAIK on Ovens - Macroom, but nothing further than that. It would have to be started from scratch now. I still would prefer Midleton - Youghal TBH, massively overcapacity with loads of turns, which I guess describes both routes. But Midleton - Youghal has Lakeview, Castlemartyr and Killeagh which all need bypassing.
Stop go commencing Monday 6th September til Friday 10th at Tonn Láin just east of Baile Bhuirne to complete the roundabout tie in for the link road to the Clondrohid Road and the N22 junction.
The Examiner was lumping two projects into to one, and counting them as a single scheme. Macroom-Ovens would have been a similar road-type to the existing Ballincolling Bypass (so, basically a motorway but without the vehicle-type and L-driver restrictions). That project hit a lot of local objection, and was eventually canned in 2011 when the roads programme was cut back.
I don’t believe that this Macroom-Ovens section got a new approval from An Bord Pleaneala in 2015; my understanding was that only Macroom-Baile Bhúirne was approved to go forward.
supposed to be HQDC from Ovens to Macroom.
When exactly was the Macroom-Ovens scheme excluded from the bypass itself? This 2015 article from the Examiner says the "43 kilometre" bypass was supposed to run from Ballyvourney to Ovens.
Also, if or when the Macroom-Ovens road does come to fruition, what form is it going to take? Improving the current road or building a new road altogether? There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information on it, although not too surprising given it's been postponed until 2027 at least apparently.
N22 Macroom-Ovens is much, much more urgent than N25 Midleton-Youghal. Even a relief road at Castlemartyr to bring N25 traffic out of the main street and separate out Garryvoe traffic would do wonders for the N25 in East Cork.
If they included the bridge there is less chance of the Macroom - Ovens scheme being built. Now you can say that bridge is a single point of failure that would be a bit of a disaster.
Macroom to Ovens is very much overcapacity but personally I would say Midleton - Youghal should come before Macroom to Ovens. That is likely controversial though, I'd love both!
Route selection was done on the N22 Macroom-Ovens and they went with a route crossing the Lee beside Coolcower House to the west of the existing 2 mile bridge.
It may change if/when they redo route selection but this route made the most sense the last time so probably would be something similar again.
Macroom-Ovens is going to be a serious safety issue when the Baile Bhuirne-Macroom section is done. The N22 is already in the worst 4 national route stretches for safety issues (alongside the N2 north of Ardee, the N4 between Mullingar and Rooskey and the entire N20).
I can’t help thinking that they stopped before Four-mile Bridge because that section may not be on the future N22 if Macroom-Ovens gets built.
They could end up doing something like this, and rejoin the existing alignment at Ballytrasna:
There is a separate scheme from Macroom to Ovens which was likely suggested by TII to be included in the forthcoming National Development Plan.
The main issue being the Minister for Transport, and the inability of him and his party to see the major benefits such a scheme would have for buses, freight, and active transport in the area.
It's just a shame they couldn't have continued on to 4 mile bridge ...
Is it? Some of the parts of the inter town stretch are quite behind the rest but there’s no major structures along there (with the exception of the yet to start bridge over the road that branches off at Mons Bar. To my knowledge this is the only major structure yet to start construction)
Large swathes of the Macroom section are very advanced but some elements are further behind (Coolcower, around Millstreet Road (not shown in the video), around the 2 under construction road bridges at Kilnagurteen and Cloonfadda).
Overall, they are making ferocious progress given the sheer volume of earthworks required. The terrain is very undulating and there are some massive embankments and cuttings involved, some directly after one another (e.g Coolcower-Mill Road on a lengthy embankment followed by a large cutting up the hill under the Coolyhane Road).
Itll be one incredible drive when complete.
It looks like the Ballyvourney side of this project is 6-12 months behind the Macroom side. Should we be concerned?
The bridges are amazing on this scheme. Really really long bridge beams and tiny stubby little supports.
September update from the usual man with the drone.
The best bit of this is at the end, the route from the Mill Road to Coolcower as this is not visible from the road. They've gone much further east here than I'd thought.
Lots of visible change happening now on the existing routes. New alignment going down between the Clondrohid Road in Ballyvourney and the new interchange. New alignment going down at the Millstreet Road interchange. New bridge up at Coolnacaheragh. Should be seeing some change at Coolcower as they continue hauling fill material east from Gurteenroe.
The columns are in place for the road overbridge and it just needs a pour of readymix or whatever way they do it, huge progress, passed under it 3 times since Monday.
Newsletter #5 circulated today.
Sign at Ovens is very misleading. The N22 closure is 40km west of here but it makes no reference to this. Someone going from Cork to Bantry for example would be completely unaffected by this closure.
See the post by Prowetod above - diversion from Macroom to Baile Bhuirne via Clondrohid during those hours.
Period of Proposed Closure
From 20:00hrs on Monday 16th August 2021 to 06.00hrs on Saturday 21st August 2021.
(Nightly Closure)
Reason for Proposed Closure
To facilitate N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Road Development (Installation of bridge beams).
Alternative Routes
Westbound Traffic. In Macroom Town follow the R-582 Millstreet Road to its junction with the L-3409 Clondrohid Road. Follow the L-3409 west through Clondrohid to its junction with the N22 at Baile Bhuirne.
The stated diversion route is applicable in reverse when travelling in the opposite direction.
Local access will be maintained throughout the duration of the Road Closure.
https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/news/temporary-closing-public-roads-98
Next week between 20:00 and 06:00 each day if I'm reading them right.
Outside ovens today a sign was flashing saying the N22 will be closed for a few days. Not sure on the dates as I only saw it as I was passing
Thanks. That's a shame.
From what I have read on this forum it appears it will not be opened in sections
Does anyone know if this scheme will be opened up in sections or will we have to wait for full completion? Thanks
Public consultation: https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/a4238-temporary-road-closure-n22-coolnacaheragh-between-macroom-and-baile-bhuire-co-cork-to-facilitate-n22-baile-bhuirne-to-macroom-road-development-installation-of-bridge-beams/
Road Subject of Proposed Closure
N22 Coolnacaheragh – between Macroom and Baile Bhuire, Co. Cork.
CIF holidays are very much still a thing but it's up to individual companies whether they observe them or not. Indeed they're more likely to be observed by larger companies that are affiliated with the CIF.
Though after the recent extended lockdowns, it wouldn't surprise me if most construction companies are choosing to work through them this year.
Builders holidays aren't really a thing anymore, most companies keep going and cover for lads on holidays as needed.
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