Tunnelvision numbers exceeded

MORE than 50,000 vehicles are using the Jack Lynch Tunnel each working day, and that figure is expected to rise even further when the final section of the Ballincollig bypass comes on stream and the Mahon Point shopping centre opens for business.

Engineers confirmed yesterday that usage is now far beyond what was envisaged when the tunnel opened in 1999 and that at peak times they are “nearly at optimum levels”.

Back then it was projected the amount of vehicles would hit the 40,000 a day mark only by 2019.