Last-minute questions raised about report on Cork to Ringaskiddy motorway

Fianna Fáil TD Seamus McGrath says late queries are routine and should not cause any delay to the awarding of the contract

The nude statue, above Carrs Hill, which is more visible after trees were removed, as work continues on the new motorway from Bloomfield to Ringaskiddy at the junction to Mount Oval in Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The Department of Transport has raised last-minute questions about a key report on the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy motorway, stalling the award of the main contract for the long-awaited road project.

However, Cork County Council hopes to have responded by Friday to the various issues raised by the department, fuelling hopes that everything will be in place for the Government to award the contract, clearing the way for construction to finally start on a scheme which secured planning in 2018.

The detail is contained in response to a parliamentary question submitted by Carrigaline-based Fianna Fáil TD Seamus McGrath, who had sought a progress update.

In its response to him, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said the council has completed the tender process for the award of the main construction contract — the 10km stretch of motorway between the Bloomfield interchange and Ringaskiddy village — and submitted the final business case to the department of transport just before Christmas.

But it said the Department of Transport has raised “a number of queries” in relation to the business case. The council is preparing responses and it is hoped they will be submitted to the department by Friday, February 14, it said.

'A critically important project'

Mr McGrath said he believes the raising of such queries even at this late stage is a routine part of the State’s approvals process for major infrastructural projects and should not cause any undue delay.

“I don’t foresee any major issues but I do want to see things move as quickly as possible once the queries have been dealt with,” he said.

“It is a critically important project for Cork. It’s vital for the industrial base of Ringaskiddy, for the Port of Cork, and for the large residential areas around Carrigaline.

“The existing road is just not fit for purpose. It’s taking a huge volume of traffic, especially port traffic, and there is an appalling accident history on the road."

Planning for the M28 was lodged to An Bord Pleanála in May 2017, which approved it with modifications in June 2018. The decision was cleared of any legal challenges in March 2021.

The near 12km scheme is being delivered under two separate contracts — one for a 1.5km stretch of single carriageway from Barnahely, near the Port of Cork, to Ringaskiddy village, and the other for the main 10km dual carriageway stretch from Bloomfield to Ringaskiddy village.

Extensive advance works have been completed, including land acquisition, site clearance, fencing, major utility diversions, archaeology and the import and placement of large volumes of earthworks.

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Sorensen began work last October on the shorter section of road, which is due for completion in early 2026.

TII said Cork County Council has “identified the most economically advantageous tender” received for the 10km stretch but a formal appointment of the recommended main contractor is subject to government approval, which can’t happen until the department signs off on the business case.

The contract provides for construction within 36 months from the date of the award.