The Fermoy-Mitchelstown Road project involves the construction of 16 km of dual carriageway from Fermoy to Mitchelstown together with associated accommodation works and consequential works necessary in order to complete the scheme (see Location Maps, Aerial Mapping and Longitudinal Sections in Volume 2). Within that section, access to and from the Fermoy-Mitchelstown Road will be restricted to three key grade separated junctions at Moorepark, Ballybeg and Carrigane.
The proposed Fermoy-Mitchelstown Road commences at Moorepark, north of Fermoy and crosses the River Funshion. It runs parallel to and to the west of the existing N8. Passing west of the Ballinglanna Woods it crosses the Glencorra Stream at three locations. Near Caherdrinny Castle the route turns northeast to cross the existing N8, south of Mitchelstown. Oriented towards Skeheenarinky, the route keeps south of the existing N8 and terminates at the proposed grade separated junction at Carrigane, with a connection to the existing N8. The proposed N8 Carrigane to Cashel scheme north of Carrigane is also in preparation at present.
Need for Scheme:
The N8 runs northeast from Cork to Portlaoise where it joins the M7/N7, which continues on to Dublin. The overall length of the N8 is approximately 155 km. The existing N8 is a single carriageway road with limited overtaking facilities. Numerous at-grade junctions and private accesses along this section of the N8 combined with restricted overtaking opportunities compromise both the safety of road users and pedestrians. In addition to these restrictions, several sections of the N8 have substandard alignments and subject traffic to frequent delays. This section of the N8 passes through Mitchelstown where through traffic conflicts with the local traffic causing delays to both strategic journeys and community life. The construction of the Mitchelstown Relief Road will provide benefits to all categories of road users, however the long-term traffic needs require the construction of the Fermoy-Mitchelstown Road.
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