DRIVERS in Cork city are facing a long week of traffic disruption, with multiple road closures planned between now and Sunday to facilitate improvements to the water pipe network.

Gardaí are encouraging motorists to take alternative routes where possible and allow extra time for journeys, with delays likely.

The Lower Glanmire Road was closed from the junction of Water Street to Ferry Boat House from 10pm last night until 6am this morning and will close again during those hours tonight, tomorrow and Thursday.

On Saturday and Sunday the road closes for longer, until 8am, before closing for a final night and reopening at 6am next Monday morning.

Diversions for eastbound traffic to Glanmire or the Jack Lynch tunnel will be in place from MacCurtain Street onto Summerhill North, while eastbound traffic will divert off the dual carriageway via the Tivoli slip road.

Further disruption will be caused by the reduction of traffic flow to one lane outbound from MacCurtain Street to Kent Station.

The lane reduction will be 24-hours a day for the next week so intending rail passengers will need to factor in extra time for their journey to Kent Station.

The works are part of a larger Irish Water project to tackle leakage and provide a more secure and robust water supply for thousands of customers. The work will see almost 2.5km of new water mains and connecting pipes being laid, with 1.3km of old water mains being replaced between the junction with Ship Street and the junction with Water Street.

The works have been planned for the mid-term break in order to minimise disruption but Gardaí say motorists should plan for increased journey times across the north side of the city.

The overall project will stop for Christmas to avoid chaos during the build-up to Christmas and will resume in the new year.