€16m contract signed for final stages of Cork's M28 motorway project

Michael Lynch Divisional Manager South West, Cllr. Seamus McGrath, Valerie O’ Sullivan, Chief Executive, Cork County Council, Cllr Frank O’Flynn Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Ben Dalton O'Sullivan, Cllr Úna McCarthy, Mitch Tunikowski VP Growth and Sales Jacobs Engineering, Niall Healy, Director of Services, Roads and Transportation and Cllr Audrey Buckley. Photography By Gerard McCarthy
The long-awaited M28 motorway has moved another step closer with contracts signed for the final stages of the project.
The new motorway, which will link Ringaskiddy with Rochestown, will enable the strategic development of the Port of Cork's facilities in Ringaskiddy whilst also ing the economic development of the area, locally, regionally and nationally.
It is currently scheduled to be completed by 2030 and is envisaged to be a key part of the road infrastructure in Cork, improving connectivity with key urban areas such as Carrigaline.
Cork County Council has confirmed the appointment of Jacobs Engineering Ireland Ltd as the technical advisors for the project, which forms part of the Core Trans‐European Transport Network.
The €16m contract, funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, will see Jacobs Engineering Ireland oversee the implementation of Phase 5, completion of tender documentation and procurement of the works, Phase 6 Construction and Implementation of the main contract and Phase 7 Project Closeout and Review.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn, welcomed the commencement of the final stages of the project development.#
“The 12km M28 motorway has been in progress over the last two years with traffic continuing to move throughout. When complete the new motorway will bring strong social and economic benefits to the entire area, facilitating greater access to the Port of Cork’s new container terminal, as well as the IDA lands in this area.”
Cork County Council said the scheme will also increase the safety and capacity of the N28 corridor to meet existing and future traffic needs whilst also improving access to the M28 corridor in a safe and sustainable way.
Chief Executive of Cork County Council Valerie O’Sullivan added: “This development forms part of the Government's Project Ireland 2040 and will bring both safety and economic benefits. The scheme includes a number of active travel measures with an interface with the Lee to Sea greenway, together with an extension to the existing Ballybrack Valley Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme in Douglas.”