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

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https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/news/preparatory-work-0n-m28-project-moves-to-next-phase

Preparatory Work 0n M28 Project Moves to Next Phase

The new M28 motorway linking Rochestown with Ringaskiddy will move another step closer with the start of the second phase of preparatory works. As well as providing a strategically important road corridor to the Port of Cork, the project will involve extensive tree-planting and landscaping to ensure the physical and visual integration of the road and its associated features into the surrounding landscape.

Preparatory work on the M28 Project, part of the Core Trans‐European Transport Network, has been underway since last year with the route corridor cleared and fenced from Carrs Hill to the Port in Ringaskiddy at a cost of €1.2 million. Work is due to begin shortly on clearing trees and invasive gorse from Carrs Hill to the Rochestown Slip Road at the Bloomfield interchange. This clearance and fencing work is needed to finalise the detailed design of the motorway, its interchanges and associated works.

As part of the scheme over 20 hectares of new trees and shrubs will later be planted. All landscaping measures will be in keeping with the existing character of the landscape, with only native species of tree such as Hybrid Oak, Scots Pine, Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly, Blackthorn, Birch and Grey Willow being used. 

Sean Callery, Senior Engineer with the Cork National Roads Office said,

“The M28 Cork Ringaskiddy motorway will bring strong economic benefits with access to the Port of Cork’s new container terminal, as well as the IDA lands in this area. But importantly, the route will be developed with its surrounding environment to the fore. What must be removed during the preparatory phase will be replaced and, more importantly, added to. It is our stated intention to increase and improve the quality of native trees and foliage along the entire route.”

When the motorway project is completed, in addition to the extra planting, all road verges and embankments not planted with trees will be seeded with wild grasses and wildflower mixes from Irish native sources to provide quality areas that will establish quickly and for visual appearance. All works are being carried out in accordance with the Scheme’s Environmental Impact Assessment and will be supervised by ecology experts. 

Works have also been undertaken to address the direct and indirect impacts the project will have on nature habitats and other measures to support wildlife along the M28 corridor. These works have included: 

• The construction of artificial badger setts to compensate for the direct loss and disturbance of existing (albeit dormant) setts near the works.
• The installation of bat boxes as part of the fencing and clearance project along the designated route, to compensate for trees with roost potential that had to be removed.

The initial work to fence off and enable the designated route for construction has involved diversions of major utilities, archaeology investigations and environmental mitigation works in line with commitments outlined in the Scheme’s Environmental Impact Statement. 

The M28 motorway is scheduled to be completed by 2030. The motorway will be a key part of the road infrastructure in Cork, improving connectivity with key urban areas such as Carrigaline, while providing vital access to the Port of Cork facilities in Ringaskiddy. 

Active Travel forms a strong feature of the new M28 scheme. Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey added, 

Already included in the design are a new interface with the Lee to Sea greenway, together with an extension to the existing Ballybrack Valley Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme in Douglas. New active travel routes along the final route from Douglas to Carrigaline are also being explored.

Members of the public looking for the latest information on the project are invited to sign up to the M28 Newsletter by emailing M28@corkrdo.ie . A video animation showing the new route is available on the Council’s YouTube channel.

31 Dec 2029 for the fun of it 😂

It looks to me like they've made serious progress in marking out the route, and clearing a lot of trees and vegetation. I'll be very intereted in DroneHawk's next video.

From the Bloomfield interchange to the top of Carr's Hill is cleared nad marked, and I think alot has been done already down to the Shannonpark Roundabout. From the r'about to Ringaskiddy is well back from the road, so it's harder to judge, but some work has definitely been done already.

It looks to me like they will continue to work away on everything they can until they can announce a formal Start Date. Good news!

There is still quite a bit remaining to be done before construction can start:

* Completion of detailed design

* Invitation to tender

* Awarding of Construction Contract

That will certainly take until 2024

Notwithstanding the above, they have now closed the inside lane at the very start of Carr's Hill, southbound, and the local tree surgeon has quite a bit of plant there. They had started work before 07h30 today, and were still going at 16h30.

It does sound like there's a lot of planning/drawing/organising to be done, but it looks like a huge amount of the groundwork will be done when the contractor does get on site.

One negative is the recent, extra-long queue at the top of Carr's Hill, northbound in the evening - is this arelated to Dunkettle? It's a pain anyway....

Work has started on the Nortthbound carriageway. As a result, the southbound climbing lane has been closed and traffic is a bit slower during peak times.

Also, you can email: M28@corkrdo.ie to sign up for thr newsletter.

Viva la Construccion! :-)

Does anyone know if the works going on just by the entrance to Mount Oval are linked to the new slip?

I think thats their best options. Do all they can under small seperate contracts while they get the tender written and approved for the main construction contract.

I know it'll be several years before its officially "under construction" as we'd define it on this forum, but to the general public, work has started.

Thanks spacetweek - they're making great progress!

I thought at first glance that your third photo had unwittingly captured a squadron of four alien vehicles landing on the N28…

There are plans for thousands of apartments with full permission, empty sites and zero physical activity around the south docklands, I doubt the M28 is holding anything up but the next stage of speculation.