'Christmas comes early for Macroom' as bypass set to open 

First section of Ballyvourney-Macroom road due to open to general traffic in the second week of December

A section of the Macroom bypass connecting Baile Bhuirne to Macroom 

The long-awaited Macroom bypass is finally set to open next month, alleviating one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in Munster.

The first section of the €300m 22km N22 Ballyvourney-Macroom road, running from Coolcour, on the Cork City side of Macroom to Carrigaphooca on the western side, is due to open to general traffic in the second week of December, the Irish Examiner can reveal.