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28 Apr
The Jack Lynch Tunnel has been closed due to an overheight vehicle for the millionth time in the space of weeks.
This time it was a tractor that triggered the alarm system after heading south through the bore.
Thankfully it's already been cleared, but the incident has caused some knock-on delays for commuters this morning.
The current estimated travel time (as of 8am) from M8 Glanmire North to N40 Kinsale Road is 26 minutes.
Multiple incidents involving over-height vehicle alarms at Cork's busy Jack Lynch Tunnel have been caused by a new safety system that's far stricter than the one it replaced, CorkBeo has learned.
Installed in March, it has taken away the 'wiggle room' that many HGV drivers had been used to at the tunnel. And Transport Infrastructure Ireland(TII) says a combination of 'teething issues' and many drivers not being prepared for the more precise and stricter new system has caused the recent lane closures at the JLT.
There have been at least FIVE incidents of over-height alarm systems being triggered in the last week.
Up to 100,000 vehicles pass through the Dunkettle every day and around 66,000 use the tunnel.
On Tuesday Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) told CorkBeo that the incident before today's was a 'legitimate' alarm. And that the new system had been 'fine-tuned to ensure it's functioning properly.'
"The new system was installed in March and it is strictly set at 4.65 metres," Sean O'Neill of TII told CorkBeo.
"There had been some issues with false alarms, there have been some teething issues with the software, but yesterday's [Mondays] incident was a legitimate over-height vehicle issue and the system worked as it should."
"It has been double and triple checked now and any issues it might have had have been ironed out."
CorkBeo understands that part of the problem at the JLT recently is that drivers who had been used to 'wiggle room' under the old system, are not prepared for the new sensors that are strictly set to 4.65 metres and not a centimetre more.
As one haulage contractor we talked to pointed out, under the old sensor systems, trucks just above the European standard of 4.65 metres could still 'squeeze through' the JLT, but this is not the case anymore, even if the tunnel height remains the same.