N22 road (Ireland)

N22 road
Route information
Length:	115 km (71 mi)
Location
Primary destinations:	County Cork Cork City Carrigrohane Macroom County Kerry Killarney - (N72, N71) Ballymacthomas - terminates at N21
Road network
Roads in Ireland Motorways • Primary • Secondary • Regional

N22 approaching the Cork Southern Ring Road from the north

The N22 road is a national primary road in Ireland which goes through counties Kerry and Cork, from Tralee in the west through Killarney, Macroom and Ballincollig to Cork City in the east.

Sections of the N22 have been substantially upgraded in recent years. During the 1980s and 1990s a 25 km (16 mi) section between Killarney and the border with County Cork was rebuilt and widened. An auxiliary climbing lane is provided on the steep grade sections. The late 1980s saw a 3 km (1.9 mi) bypass of Killarney. In 2004 the Ballincollig bypass west of Cork city has been completed. This is a 11 km (6.8 mi) dual carriageway road built to Motorway standards that connects with the N25 Cork South Ring Road. In 2005 4 km (2.5 mi) of the road between Tralee and Farranfore has been upgraded. This adds to a 4 km section opened in 2002.

Planned upgrades

Five major projects in planning for the N22:

• Ballyvourney – Macroom
• Killarney – Farranfore
• Tralee eastern bypass with a spur to Ballingrelagh
• Macroom to Ballincollig rebuild
• Cork Northern Ring Road, connecting with M8 junction 18.

Additionally there are proposals for 2 plus 1 upgrades to the Killarney – Ballyvourney section. The Farranfore – Killarney and Ballyvourney – Macroom schemes are to be developed as 2 plus 1 roads also. The Cork Northern Ring Road is currently in planning, and consists of 17 km (11 mi) of dual carriageway. Part of the Cork Northern Ring Road scheme would be designated motorway.

It is famous for The Sculpture Road to Killarney where the internationally respected sculptor, Tighe O'Donoghue/Ross of Glenflesk and his son, Eoghan, were commissioned to place sculpted stones along the new part of the road between Killarney and the county bounds to Cork. Most of the stones were excavated during the building of the road, varying between one to three tons in weight. The most popular sculpture is that of a rearing horse, set atop a rise along the road near Clonkeen. Made from ferro-cement over a steel infrastructure, Capall Mor accoutered with a helmet featuring a unicorn horn, typical of the war horses used by the Celtic chiefs during their battles. There are broken chains around its front legs, signifying freedom.

See also

• Roads in Ireland
• Motorways in Ireland
• National secondary road
• Regional road

References

• Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 – Department of Transport