A €215m upgrade of one of the country's busiest interchanges has been officially opened by Tánaiste Micheál Martin.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said the upgrade to the Dunkettle Interchange on the outskirts of Cork city is already delivering a 50% reduction in journey times during peak hours.
Speaking at the opening, the Tánaiste said the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme is a significant investment in Cork's future and a vital link in the region's transport network.
Mr Martin said he believes it will be a catalyst for economic and social activity across Cork and the Munster region.
TII said the upgrade has been delivered on time and to budget despite the major challenges posed by a global pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.
Traffic volumes through the interchange are at an all-time high approaching 120,000 vehicles on the busier days of the week but TII said despite this journey times during peak hours have been reduced by almost 50% on average as a result of the upgrade project.
The interchange is at the junction of four major national roads - the M8 Cork to Dublin motorway; the N25 Cork to Waterford/Rosslare route; the N40 Cork South Ring Road via the Jack Lynch tunnel; and the N8 Dunkettle to Cork city national route.
Planning approval for the project was obtained in 2013, but funding constraints meant that initial advance works did not get under way until 2016 with construction beginning in 2020.
Main contractors Sisk Civil Engineering Ireland said construction was extremely complex given that project staff had to work in and around live traffic - as well as rail traffic - at one of the country's busiest intersections.
The project has delivered 18 new road links totalling 10kms in length; seven new bridge structures as well as upgrade work on five pre-existing structures; and the upgrading of the N25 road between the Tivoli roundabout and the Little Island interchange.
In addition: 2.9kms of new walkways and cycleways were included in the design; three new bridges across the Cork to Midleton railway line; and Intelligent Transport Systems throughout the upgraded interchange.
Lord Mayor of Cork Councillor Kieran McCarthy welcomed it as an important additional piece in the strategic transport infrastructure in metropolitan Cork.
"The enhanced connectivity facilitated by this project will undoubtedly fuel progress and opportunity for generations to come," Mr McCarthy said.
Mayor of County Cork Councillor Frank O'Flynn said it was a significant milestone for the region.
"It is a particularly exciting time in terms of quality-of-life improvements for the people of Cork," he said.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland Chief Executive Peter Walsh said the Dunkettle project was the culmination of a journey that was 10 years in the making.
"It was delivered through innovation and commitment by the entire project team and with the support of the patience of the public."
The contract for the scheme includes a three-year maintenance period which will run until 2027. In addition to environmental monitoring and landscaping management, this will also include an ongoing focus on monitoring traffic flows through the network, the TII said.
