M28 - Cork to Ringaskiddy [advance works pending; 2024 start]

There currently isn't anything delaying the project. Enabling works are ongoing and will be for a while yet, construction can't start until these are completed. Consultants are being procured who will prepare the construction contract tender package, a necessary step which can't be skipped. Hopefully there are no delays in issuing the construction tender and subsequent commencement of the works.

There have been delays in the past, most notably the appeals to the planning approval, but as things stand today, the necessary steps to allow for construction are all proceeding.

Dan Boyle was posting on here claiming a rail line from Cobh to Ringaskiddy was the solution.

I thought it ill thought out at best. The lorries accessing the port are distributing containers literally everywhere around Munster. Rail in this case would be useful for moving containers to specific locations only. It’s just didn’t make sense.

a fixed rail bridge from Cobh to Ringaskiddy would stop ships docking at Marino Point. Not a hope in hell it would happen unless they tunelled it or some sort of swing brigde

A bridge across the harbour would cost a fortune and would be a planning nightmare, add in the opening requirement and it becomes even more expensive and difficult. It is not a realistic option, particularly when Marino Point will be able to facilitate sea to rail transfers.

Hi Marno21, I don't want split hairs but I think it is worth posting the actual wording from the TII document.

While your post is a fair representation of this, given what is happening to other projects the last sentence (which I highlighted in bold) is significant in that it allows another opportunity for the project to be needlessly delayed by Ryan. I don't want to drag the thread off-topic so I'll post more on his conduct in your Logjam thread.

And given that the issuing of the tender documents is still some time away, I'd suggest that expecting construction to commence in Q4 2024 is highly aspirational and at the very least assumes no hitches, delays or cock-ups, never mind political meddling.

Sorry to be a negative voice on this again, but nothing in the firmament gives me any cause for optimism in relation to this or any other road infrastructure project at present.

This one is safe I think even with Ryan in charge. Its just so necessary for Cork and the Port, and isn't a bypass, per se, or a long distance stretch of road.

You would think that wouldn't you. But you'd be completly wrong.

Martin, aided and abetted by his "ears on the ground no threat local side-kick" Desmond was quite public in his support for the M28 Steering Group, who actively campaigned against the M28 and blocked it for three years and apart from the delay achieved absolutely nothing of substance. Apart from putting thousands of N28 road users at risk every day.

Both McGrath and Coveney were more subtle, shifting from one arse cheek to the other and riding both sides of the ditch with a "well the new road is necessary but of course we must listen to the democratic voice of the people" kind of "love you long time give me votes" stance.

For completeness, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire pretty much kept his mouth shut, and certainly was never a vociferous supporter of the new road. And in contrast, Jerry Buttimer, never shut his mouth in opposition to the project.

I won't bother mentioning the local Green representatives, firstly because you can guess their stance and secondly because both of them are now utterly irrelevant.

So all in all, the level of support for the project from the main local politicians was somewhere between zero and minus five.

However, you can also be sure that their diaries already have provisional entries for the opening in 2031 or whenever.

Ash trees are pretty much invincible, unless Ash Dieback comes a'knocking!

The wall nearest the slip road lining the golf course was knocked and has been rebuilt further back and at an angle, I assume to allow for Maryborough Hill to be widened for the future turning lane

This hasn’t gone to tender yet, and it’s quite conceivable that the tender won’t even be published this year. There is no chance of construction commencing in 2024. TII are on record that this is targeted for completion post 2030. There was a discussion on the likely completion date a few pages back if you’d like to review it.

Your last sentence isn't correct. A smaller contract would most likely attract a wider pool of potential contractors who wouldn't have the capability or meet minimum requirements for a larger contract. It would also reduce the risk and exposure to the contractor.

In any case, it is entirely possible, and even standard, to set out elements of a project which are to be completed first. With this entire scheme as a single contract, TII could set from Shannonpark north as the priority and to be handed over first.

From: https://www.corkrdo.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M28-EIS_Volume-5-Drawings-1.pdf