Welcome
During the course of the project, relevant information and project updates will be made available through the contractor’s project website at the following link: www.n22bbm.ie
Project Background
The N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Road Development saw the construction of a 22km of Type 2 Dual Carriageway constructed offline of the existing N22. The road was constructed through challenging terrain which varied through the development from hilly, remote land with rock outcrops at the western end, to low lying pasture lands to the east of Macroom.
Project Information
The new road bypasses the town of Macroom on the eastern end of the scheme and the villages of Baile Bhuirne and Baile Mhic Íre in the western end. The scheme consisted of 3 grade separated junctions (Baile Bhuirne, Tonn Láin & Gurteenroe) and one at grade junction at Coolcour roundabout. There are 110 structures on the scheme including 4 River Bridges, 5 Overbridges, 12 Underbridges, 21 accommodation underpasses and 53 culverts.
There was approximately 2.8 million m3 of cut and 2.4 million m3 of fill which needed to be processed across the scheme. There is 26km of mainline carrier drain on the project and 373,000m2 of mainline pavement. There was 190 hectares of land required for the scheme with 19ha of this designated as Kerry Slug habitat. During its peak there was 300 construction staff involved on the project.
Cork County Council awarded the construction contract for the N22 Baile Bhuirne Macroom Road Development project to a Joint Venture of Jons Civil Engineering Company Ltd and John Cradock Ltd. in 2019. The Macroom Bypass section of the scheme opened to the public on Friday the 9th December 2022. A second section of the new scheme was opened on Friday August 11th 2023 allowing traffic travel from Coolcour, Macroom to Tonn Láin, Baile Mhic Íre. The final section of the N22 Baile Bhuirne Macroom Road Development was officially opened on 6th November 2023 by the Mayor of Cork County Council, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn, Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD together with the Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan and Chief Executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Peter Walsh.
What’s Happening Now
The project is currently at Phase 7 Close Out and Review. The purpose of Phase 7 is to complete all outstanding contractual and residual issues relating to the project. The Contractor is currently completing any outstanding works including finalising accommodation works across the scheme. It is expected that all works will be completed in Q3 2024.
