N20 Cork to Mallow Road Faces Three Nights of Overnight Closures

• Motorists travelling between Cork and Mallow face significant disruption next week as the N20 will close overnight for three consecutive nights to facilitate essential roadworks.

The busy route will be closed from 8pm to 6am on Monday 1st, Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd September, with traffic diverted through a lengthy detour via Blarney and several regional roads.

An Garda Síochána has confirmed that southbound traffic from Mallow will be directed left onto the R619 at the slip road, continuing west through Kilvealaton West. Drivers will then head south via Drommahane and Bweeng to Creans Cross, where they'll turn left onto the R579. The diversion continues southeast to Cloghroe before joining the R617 through Blarney, eventually returning to the N20 via the southbound slip.

Northbound traffic from Cork to Mallow will follow the same route in reverse, adding considerable time to what is normally a straightforward 30-minute journey between the two towns.

The diversion route, which will be fully signposted, takes drivers on a scenic but considerably longer tour through some of North Cork's quieter roads. Those familiar with the area might recognise this as the "scenic route" that nobody chooses voluntarily, particularly after a long day's work.

Local access will be maintained throughout the closure period, meaning residents and businesses along the N20 corridor will still be able to reach their properties. Traffic management personnel will be stationed at key points along the diversion route to assist motorists.

Drivers are advised to allow significant extra time for their journeys, particularly those with early morning commitments in Cork or Mallow. The 6am reopening time means the road should be clear for morning rush hour traffic, though any overruns could cause considerable delays.

The timing of these works, just as schools prepare to return and many finish their summer holidays, is likely to test the patience of North Cork commuters. Those who can adjust their travel times might consider travelling before 8pm or delaying journeys until after 6am where possible.

Gardaí are urging all motorists to drive carefully along the diversion route, particularly on the regional roads which may not be familiar to all drivers and can be challenging in darkness.