FOR SEVERAL MONTHS The Jack Lynch Tunnel has closed at night during the week and it has now emerged this will recur for the “next few years” as critical systems are modernised inside the structure under the River Lee estuary. 

The 600m road tunnel links the M8 motorway and industrial heartland of Little Island with the N40 southern ring road which begins in the suburb of Mahon. 

The tunnel is named after Cork-born Taoiseach Jack Lynch and was opened in 1999. It has removed an estimated 40,000 car journeys from the city.

It is an “immersed tube tunnel”, meaning that the sections were sunk into place and then connected before the water was pumped out. It is a key part of Cork’s infrastructure and enables city centre traffic volumes to be dramatically lower. Previously, cars and heavy goods vehicles would have had to travel through the city centre. 

For the last several months the tunnel has seen regular closures from 9pm at night with traffic directed back into the city. 

It is understood that electrical systems are proving particularly challenging and to ensure safety the tunnel must be closed during the works.

Sean O’Neill of Transport Infrastructure Ireland explained that it was all part of a major modernisation project to bring the 25-year-old facility to current international best practice level. 

“The Jack Lynch Tunnel turned 25 years old in 2024. The number of key tunnel systems that need to be replaced has significantly increased over the past few years,” he said.

Routine tunnel maintenance closures take place over two to three days typically, every three months, but additional tunnel closures were required in 2023 and 2024 for major tunnel projects and to facilitate works as part of the Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme.

O’Neill said that ther are additionally “several asset renewal projects” currently in progress at Jack Lynch tunnel which involve replacing or upgrading major systems in the tunnel such as CCTV, electrical substation infrastructure and various other minor projects works.

“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,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill said tunnel closure details were available online, on social media and on information displays close to the facility.