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

Surprised that no online improvements were ever done on the section between Lissarda and Macroom. It will soon be the worst section by a distance. Very surprising given the online improvements in the 90s on the County Kerry section.

I suppose they were hoping that the north route would happen. It's really the bit between the two bridges that's the issue.

DroneHawk has footage from today:

Two observations:

1. The 60 zone is very long.
2. There’s quite a tailback at the Ballyvourney end.

I think we'll just have to put up with Ballyvourney tailbacks. Its only for a month or so and is still leagues better than what we had before with that godawful twisty road which I am NEVER driving on again

Apols for confusion - I had just posted DroneHawks video when I noticed you have already posted it above mine. Can't delete posts on this "new" version of boards.

Well its not even on the list yet , and then a decade minimum assuming no major legal battles ( and thats a big ask )

So i think decades is a fair guess..

Yes no ready yet, paper said 27th October for opening

Eamon Ryan?…..

TII did a comparison in a recent document, showing how each of the phases has lengthened in recent times. If I see it again I'll post it. They also mentioned it at the last Joint Committee on Transport and Communications meeting.

The Public Spending code, which rightly introduced much needed reforms, added a few steps which take time. Changes to TII's own guidelines have probably added to it also. The increased tendency for almost every project to be subject to Judicial Review (and in some cases Court of Appeal and Supreme Court proceedings) is also contributing. And "inertia" (for want of a better word) in the Department of Transport is certainly a factor. The unattractiveness of the projects where all risk is transferred to the contractor may also be contributing.

Personally, I also think that the current government lacks the drive and enthusiasm to get things done. I'd contrast this with the mood that was there in the noughties to get the motorways (and other things done). Not for a moment saying that Government was better, just contracting the two. And I'm also not saying that there is any indication that any likely alternative government would be any better.

The M28 project for example, depending on where you put the start date, will probably have taken either 18/19 years or 25/26 years by the time it reaches completion. I know the Steering Group are blamed for delaying this, but that accounted for just 3 years.

Every major project in Ireland was both late and over budget, until the Turkish co won the Ballincollig bye pass. The authorities really didn't want it going to them but had no choice. It came in ahead of time and under budget. Gave everyone a kick up the arse.

That may contain some truth, but that's just the construction phase which is not where the real problems are. And to be fair the majority of major road construction projects in this century completed pretty close to their contracted end date, some ahead of schedule, and a few behind - e.g. the M7 where they underestimated the difficulty of building a motorway in a bog.

The real problem is the 5/6 phases that come prior to construction. These are getting worse and worse.

0 - Scope and Pre-appraisal

1 - Concept and Feasibility

2 - Options Selection

3 - Design and Evaluation

4 - Statutory Processes

5 - Enabling and Procurement

I assume there’s a little hard shoulder area every few kms like the new N4 near Sligo?