Work started yesterday on a new €49 million interchange on the Kinsale Road in Cork which will greatly relieve one of the most notorious traffic bottlenecks in the country.
The new interchange, which is due to be completed in 18 months, is 2.4km long and will include a flyover carrying the N25 Cork South Ring Road over the existing Kinsale Road roundabout in an east to west direction.
The flyover will comprise two traffic lanes and a hard shoulder in each direction. New slip roads connecting the South Ring Road will also be constructed as part of the Government investment.
On completion, the project will extend from the eastern boundary of Vernon Mount to the Pouladuff overbridge crossing of the Cork South Ring Road.
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said yesterday: "The Kinsale Road roundabout is the pivot of traffic movement in Cork city. With so many busy roads meeting at one point, something clearly needed to be done. The Government's road strategy ensures that we will finally see an end to one of the most infamous bottlenecks in the country."
The Minister added that the new interchange will be a crucial access point to Cork city and a major benefit for the 2.25 million passengers who use the airport every year.
Meanwhile, in Mitchelstown, Mr Cullen turned the sod on the new €26 million relief road. The road consists of the construction of 4.1km of single carriageway incorporating four roundabouts, two road bridges and one underpass.
Construction work also started yesterday on a €100 million retail and business park at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, which is expected to create some 1,200 jobs. The project will comprise retail warehousing, light industry units, office-based industry, warehousing and car showrooms.