More than 9,000 people have signed up for a charity run through the Dublin Port Tunnel in advance of its official opening to traffic next month.
Entries for the 10km run close at 5pm today, with the remaining 1,000 available places likely to be snapped up before the deadline.
A spokeswoman for the project said the Taoiseach would be there on the day of the race, December 10th, although it wasn't clear whether Mr Ahern, a keen jogger, will take part.
The event will raise about €50,000 for the lord mayor's charity fund, derived from a portion of the €25 entry fee.
With a 60m gradient between the entrance of the tunnel in East Wall and the M50 exit, runners will be sternly tested in the first half of the run, before turning around and finishing where they started. Currently, Dublin firefighters are carrying out training procedures in the tunnel in case of an emergency. So far more than 200 have been trained in emergency evacuation and firefighting procedures.
A spokeswoman said the tunnel had been tested for leakages and "there are no problems whatsoever".
An earlier problem caused by the puncturing of the waterproof lining had been repaired, she said.
The tunnel will officially open on December 20th.
For more information check www.dublinporttunnel.ie
