The N73 Clogher to Waterdyke realigment scheme.
The N73 road realignment between Clogher Cross and Waterdyke in Co. Cork has been completed, four months ahead of schedule.
Located along the N73 between Mallow and Mitchelstown, the €12m infrastructure project involved the provision of approximately 3km of Type 2 single carriageway road and a further 0.5km of local road improvements.
Deputy Chief Executive of Cork County Council, James Fogarty, welcomed the successful completion of the scheme, saying: "This project is about improving the safety and driveability of the N73 for both active travel and commercial activities. The end result is a modern road, complete with an active travel facility. It will benefit all road users, whether they travel on foot, by car, bike, bus, or drive a heavy goods vehicle."
Work began onsite in July 2022, with Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd. as the main contractor.
While the planned construction timeline was 12 months, the road realignment was completed four months ahead of schedule.
ROD role
ROD was engaged by Cork County Council to provide engineering consultancy services on the scheme, including:
- undertaking the detailed design of the road realignment and active travel facilities
- compiling the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) documentation
- assisting with the main construction contract procurement
- providing design office support during construction
ROD also provided Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) services on the scheme.
Solution
Prior to the road realignment works, this section of the N73 (which runs from the N72 east of Mallow to the M8 at Mitchelstown) comprised a narrow carriageway, closely bounded by hedgerows, with limited or no verges. The road had sub-standard horizontal and vertical alignment and inadequate forward visibility for its 100km/h speed limit.
The road realignment involved the provision of approximately 3km of Type 2 single carriageway road and a further 0.5km of local road improvements. The design provides enhanced forward visibility, horizontal and vertical alignments in accordance with TII design standards, and incorporates the principles of forgiving roadsides to further improve road safety.
The scheme includes a variety of sustainable drainage measures, including the adoption of grassed surface water channels along the entire length of road realignment.
A farm underpass crossing has been provided beneath the realigned road, improving safety for N73 users and agricultural connectivity for landowners by reducing agricultural vehicle movements across the road.
The inclusion of a new 2.5m wide shared cycle track/pedestrian footway, located adjacent to the realigned road, will provide the local community with a safe walking and cycling route.
