'Deeply frustrating': Cork's Jack Lynch Tunnel closed overnight 67 times already this year

The Jack Lynch Tunnel has already had 67 overnight closures so far this year, with that number estimated to rise to 75 by the end of the year — marking a 70% increase on 2023.

In 2023, the tunnel had 44 such closures, while in 2022 it had 40, and in 2021 it had 64 closures.

According to figures released by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to Pádraig O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, there will be eight further closures before the end of the year, meaning that for 20% of 2024, the tunnel will have been fully or partially closed at night.

Frustrating

Mr O’Sullivan told The Echo he had been contacted by a number of constituents who had expressed frustration at repeated closures of the tunnel.

“A lot of people have said to me that the Jack Lynch Tunnel seems to be closed nearly on a rolling basis,” he said. 

“It is deeply frustrating that a key part of Cork’s infrastructure has been closed so often this year.”

The TII figures list 46 of the tunnel closures as being for ‘projects full closure’, with nine being for ‘planned maintenance’, and six listed as relating to closure of the southern bore.

Among the reasons listed for the closures, 38 are ‘MV/LV’, which stands for medium voltage/low voltage, and refers to the replacement of the tunnel’s original power supply equipment.

Five closures relate to CCTV and network upgrades, while seven are related to the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme.

According to figures in 2022, an average 60,565 vehicles pass through it every day.

Safety

Mr O’Sullivan suggested there had to be a less disruptive way of carrying out maintenance. 

“Safety is obviously paramount and if the work has to be done, it has to be done, but perhaps it could be done on a more phased basis or later at night, to prevent full closures and inconvenience to motorists."

A TII spokesperson said with the tunnel 25 years old, “the number of key tunnel systems that require to be replaced has significantly increased over the past few years”.

They said where possible, TII strives to give notice of closures through the tunnel’s website, through media, social media, and on message signs well in advance of closures.

“We anticipate that there will be some additional closures at Jack Lynch Tunnel for the next few years while key tunnel systems are being replaced or upgraded.

“All this work is part and parcel of keeping the Jack Lynch Tunnel fully up to date with all modern equipment to maintain optimal functionality.”