Major Traffic Disruption Again Tonight as Kinsale Road Roundabout and Jack Lynch Tunnel Both Close

• Motorists face a challenging evening commute as two critical pieces of infrastructure will close simultaneously tonight, with the Kinsale Road Roundabout beginning five weeks of resurfacing works whilst the Jack Lynch Tunnel southbound bore shuts for maintenance.

The N40 Junction 6, better known as the Kinsale Road Roundabout, will see its first night of closures from 20:30 this evening as part of an extensive resurfacing programme. Adding to the traffic complications, the southbound bore of the Jack Lynch Tunnel will also close from 22:00 to 05:00 tonight, creating a perfect storm for those travelling Cork's orbital routes after dark.

The Kinsale Road Roundabout works represent a significant undertaking, with closures scheduled from 20:30 to 05:30 Monday through Saturday for approximately five weeks. This critical junction, which serves Cork Airport traffic as well as routes to Kinsale, Togher, and Frankfield, will have all lanes reinstated each morning before peak traffic periods.

Cork Airport has issued an advisory for passengers travelling during these hours to allow substantial additional time for their journeys. With both the roundabout and tunnel affected tonight, those catching late flights or collecting arriving passengers should plan alternative routes well in advance.

The timing of the double closure couldn't be more challenging for Cork's night-time economy and shift workers. The tunnel closure, running from 22:00 to 05:00, overlaps significantly with the roundabout works, effectively limiting options for those needing to traverse the city after hours.

Local diversions will be clearly signposted at both locations. However, with two major arteries compromised simultaneously, traffic is expected to be particularly heavy on alternative routes through the city centre and the South Link Road.

The resurfacing programme at the roundabout forms part of essential maintenance to ensure this busy junction continues to operate safely. With works scheduled Monday through Saturday nights, Sunday evening traffic will remain unaffected throughout the five-week programme.

Tonight's tunnel closure is scheduled for routine maintenance, with the southbound bore reopening at 05:00 Thursday morning. Northbound traffic will continue to flow normally through the tunnel, though delays are expected as diverted southbound traffic seeks alternative routes.

Motorists planning journeys after 20:30 this evening should familiarise themselves with diversion routes immediately. Those needing to travel south through the tunnel after 22:00 will need to use the city centre routes or plan their journeys for earlier in the evening.

The Kinsale Road Roundabout handles thousands of vehicles daily, making it one of the most important junctions on Cork's road network. Its closure, combined with the tunnel restrictions, will test the patience of even the most seasoned Cork drivers.

All affected routes will have clear signage directing traffic around both sets of works. The roundabout programme is scheduled to continue until early September, though the tunnel should return to normal operation from tomorrow morning.

For those who can adjust their travel times, avoiding the 20:30 to 05:30 window would be advisable, particularly on this first few nights when drivers are still familiarising themselves with the new traffic patterns.