Site of river tunnel open to the public

HUNDREDS are expected to venture into one of the largest river tunnels ever built in this country — without going underground.

The National Roads Authority and DirectRoute are opening to the public a site next to the river Shannon where a 675 metre tunnel will commence under the river.

The tunnel forms phase 2 of the Limerick Southern Ring Road which will encircle Limerick.

The tunnel structure is being constructed by Austrian specialists Strabag using five huge pre-cast ‘tubes, which will be floated out onto the river and lowered onto a foundation built with six million tonnes of rock.

The tunnel road will cost in the region of €570 million to complete and will be open in the next two years.

This Saturday, members of the public are being invited to see at first hand the awesome work of engineering.