Plan to ease traffic near tunnel welcomed by AA

THE Automobile Association has welcomed news that the National Roads Authority is studying a plan to ease traffic at the Dunkettle Interchange, in Cork, which feeds the Jack Lynch Tunnel.

NRA and Cork County Council engineers believe they can overcome gridlock by creating two new slip roads, an extra lane at the roundabout and introducing traffic lights at all approach roads. The cost, they believe, a mere €2 million. AA spokesman Conor Faughnan said traffic flow at the major interchange was becoming an increasing problem.

"It's one of the major pinch points in the country which features daily on AA Roadwatch. It will get worse unless something is done," said Mr Faughnan.

With nearly 125,000 vehicles converging on the interchange every day, the roundabout in particular has become clogged and traffic is backing up on all approach roads. The Jack Lynch Tunnel is being choked at peak time and is handling 50,000 vehicles each day double earlier predictions.

Mr Faughnan said he thought the engineers' plans were very cheap but wondered if they would be effective.

"It's (€2 million) just buttons. I hope it's not a cheap, quick-fix when in fact what is needed is a major upgrade," said the AA spokesman.

However, he said he was "reassured" that the NRA was at least looking at plans to alleviate commuters' daily problems.

Tony Mullane, projects manager at the NRA offices at Glashaboy, Glanmire, knows only too well the extent of traffic movement at the Dunkettle interchange. He said that since the opening of the Watergrasshill bypass, many commuters who would have taken short-cuts through Upper Glanmire and through New Inn have instead chosen to travel along the 10km dual carriageway, thus increasing traffic at Dunkettle at peak times.

"Traffic using the tunnel is huge. It's 50,000 a day which we wouldn't have expected when it opened," said Mr Mullane.

He said details of a new project at the interchange had been sent to NRA headquarters in Dublin and he was hopeful of early approval.

"I hope that funding will forthcoming next year. The NRA office in Glanmire is acutely aware of the requirement (for such a project)."

Engineers plan to build a dedicated slip road east of Lota roundabout which will join directly with the Dublin road, thus omitting the necessity to negotiate the roundabout at the Dunkettle Interchange.

A similar slip road would be developed on the Dublin Road (southbound) which would link directly with the East Cork Parkway and destinations like Little Island, Midleton and Rosslare. Most of the work will involve just earth-moving and no costly bridges. "The speed on the roundabout is the problem because it's difficult to get a gap," said Mr Mullane.

That's why engineers want to put traffic lights on the approach roads. They also want to create an extra lane which can be done on the inside of the roundabout by cutting down the green area.