20 August 2024
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
EirGrid, the developer of the Celtic Interconnector, the subsea link between Ireland and France, has announced that cable works associated with the strategic energy project will now progress to the N25 in east Cork.
This work will see traffic management plans applied initially to the road from Churchtown Junction (North) to Castlemartyr, with speed restrictions of 60 km/h being put in place.
Cable works will avoid completely, the villages of Castlemartyr and Killeagh, on route to the landfall point at Claycastle Beach, Youghal.
EirGrid, working with its contractors and subcontractors, will be putting traffic management plans in place to ensure the safety of all road users and construction workers and additional support will be provided to manage traffic flow efficiently.
Speaking about the latest phase of works, EirGrid Chief Infrastructure Officer, Michael Mahon said: “This critical infrastructure project is essential for improving our electricity infrastructure and enhancing interconnection capabilities. To establish the best approach and minimise inconvenience, a comprehensive consultation in the project development phase was carried out with local authorities, stakeholders, and communities.”
“We understand that our work may cause temporary disruptions, and we extend our sincere thanks to commuters and residents for their patience and cooperation as we undertake this essential work. This project is a significant step towards a more reliable and sustainable electricity supply,” added Mahon.
Cable installation works are progressing well on the energy project, which, when complete, will allow the import and export of enough electricity to power 450,000 homes.
Trenching and ducting is now complete on the High Voltage Alternating Current cable route, with progress well under way on the High Voltage Direct Current cable route from the converter station at Ballyadam, near Carrigtwohill.
