Roads chief sorry for Cork Jack Lynch tunnel chaos

The head of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has apologised for a raft of failings which allowed minor flooding near Cork’s Jack Lynch tunnel to bring city traffic to a standstill.

CEO Michael Nolan said a full review of tunnel procedures and protocols has been ordered after the serious under-performance of the tunnel contractor on December 3. And he said a series of short and long-term recommendations will be implemented to ensure such chaos does not happen again.

He made his comments in a damning report to Cork City Council last night after council chief executive Ann Doherty expressed serious concerns following the unprecedented city-wide traffic chaos. Traffic was gridlocked for hours after one northbound lane of the N40 on the approach to the tunnel was closed due to flooding in the left lane.