N22 - Macroom to Ballyvourney (Macroom Bypass) [open to traffic]

Resurfacing at Coolcower to commence Monday the 11th until December 6th. Stop go in place 7pm to 7am nightly. Badly needed and won’t affect traffic much.

I wonder will any of the bypass work around there be done in parallel

Massive cutting there they did some job in the time it was closed.

New alignment on the Millstreet is open now too.

The Kerry side flows directly into the existing N22 but there is a GSJ there for access to/from the old route and into Baile Bhuirne.

That area at Coolcower where the roundabout is isn't cleared either, it was built up from the river level. Quite a lot of fill gone in there it was some operation going on in August/September. Dumper central.

Lengthy document on the development of the Coolyhane Road Upper overbridge by the contractors. Fascinating level of detail.

This is wonderful. Great perspective on the entire 22km.

I can't help but notice when watching this how much more far advanced the scheme is from Coolcower to Bothar Cill na Martra. West of there is months behind the eastern section. At Toon Lain, it becomes much more advanced again and is very advanced from there to the Big Cut just west of the Bohill Bridge where it drops back again from there to Slievereagh.

You'd wonder would a partial opening from Coolcower to the Mons Bar be possible? The underbridge at the Mons Bar is the only major structure on the entire scheme yet to commence.

Eamon Ryan hinting at a potential early partial opening in late 2022/early 2023 in the Dail yesterday:

The ongoing new bypass project consists of the construction of a dual carriageway from Macroom to Ballyvourney, finishing just before the county bounds of Kerry. The project comprises a 22 km dual carriageway with four junctions beginning west of Ballyvourney passing north of Macroom and rejoining the existing N22 south of Macroom.

Construction commenced in the first quarter of 2020 and is due for completion in the first quarter of 2024. Construction is progressing to plan, with significant earthworks operations under way. Construction of a significant number of structures is ongoing. The longest precast concrete beams in Ireland, at 49 m, were manufactured for a bridge on this scheme and were successfully lifted into place in December 2020. In addition, a large steel deck was successfully launched across a river and valley in March 2021. A number of structures with decks in place will facilitate the mass haul of earthworks on the scheme from west to east.

Overall, works are approximately 60% to 65% complete with full completion expected in 2024 and a possible early opening of a section of the scheme in late 2022 or early 2023.

TII has informed my Department that signage will be provided at both ends of the scheme to warn the oncoming road users of the new road layout ahead. Cyclists and pedestrians will be asked to use the old N22 which will be adapted, where possible, to accommodate active travel modes.

Cork County Council is reviewing the existing junctions to ensure road safety. The N22-R585 Castlemore junction is currently under assessment and will be subject to safety improvements in early next year. Other junctions on this section of the N22 will be reviewed in order of priority, taking account of accident data.

Agreed, some of the western sections are well behind.

Some parts are quite advanced though. The section around Macroom has earthworks & bridges pretty much complete now. They were beginning to lay the foundations for the road this week at Coolcower.