Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2023-06-27
Buyer: Cork County Council
Country: IE
Contract type: Works
CPV classification: 45200000: Building and civil engineering work | 45220000 | 45232450 | 45233120: Road construction works | 45233121: Main road construction work

Technical requirements: M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Project will consist of the construction of 10.9km of dual carriageway motorway from the N40 Bloomfield Interchange to Barnahely and 1.5km of single carriageway protected road from Barnahely to the eastern side of Ringaskiddy including all ancillary and consequential works.
Cork County Council, with the support of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), are developing a 12.5km upgrade to the N28 national primary route from the N28/N40 South Ring Road Bloomfield Interchange in Cork to the Port in Ringaskiddy which will form part of the Core TEN-T Route. The Project was issued to An Bord Pleanála in May 2017 and was approved in June 2018. A series of advance works contracts are currently being progressed and it is expected that the tender process for the proposed road development, commencing with a prequalification stage, will begin in the coming months. It is anticipated that the M28 Project will be constructed using the New Engineering Contract (NEC4, Option C)
The N28 is the main route from Cork to Ringaskiddy and extends from the junction with the N40 South Ring Road at Bloomfield Interchange through Carr’s Hill and Shannonpark Roundabout to Ringaskiddy. The N28 consists of 12km of single lane carriageway with a short section of dual carriageway immediately south of Bloomfield Interchange. The route ends at the village of Ringaskiddy and provides access to the Port of Cork. The N28 ends at the L2545, which continues to Haulbowline.
The condition of the existing carriageway is such that significant improvements will be required to provide users with a route that satisfies today’s standard for capacity, ride quality, safety and comfort. The horizontal and vertical geometry is sub-standard, the cross-section varies along its length, and junction types and layouts also vary.
The proposed M28 Project will consist of the construction of 10.9km of dual carriageway motorway from the N40 Bloomfield Interchange to Barnahely and 1.5km of single carriageway protected road from Barnahely to the eastern side of Ringaskiddy including all ancillary and consequential works. Planning permission for the M28 Project included a Motorway Service Area at the Port of Cork lands in Ringaskiddy but it is not proposed to include this element of construction in the main road development.
The scheme is to be delivered in a number of contracts, some of which are enabling and advance works already underway, in an effort to de-risk the scheme. Construction of the roadworks will be delivered in two contracts, one of which is the last 1.5km from Barnahely to Ringaskiddy and it is the intention of the Contracting Authority that this section will go to tender in the coming months.
•	1 full grade-separated interchange at Carr’s Hill with associated roundabout, slip roads and widening of the existing underbridge at Carr’s hill.
•	3 partial grade-separated interchanges at Bloomfield/Rochestown Road, Shannonpark and Shanbally with associated roundabouts and slip roads including 3 new underbridges and the existing bridge at Rochestown retained as part of the scheme.
•	Demolition of the existing Maryborough Hill Overbridge and construction of a replacement overbridge at the same location.
It is a requirement that all of the conditions imposed by the Planning Permission, the Environmental Impact Statement and the associated Schedule of Environmental Commitments are complied with in full.
This document is for information purposes only and to inform the industry that it is expected that the tender process for the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Project, commencing with a prequalification stage, will begin in 2023 and it is hoped to commence this in the coming months. It is envisaged to have the construction contract awarded for the 10.9km section in 2024, subject to Approvals required.
IMPORTANT: Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken by organisations or service providers is a matter solely for themselves and costs will not be reimbursed.
It is emphasised that this is not a call for competition and therefore no tender documents are available.
If required, a Scheme Location plan is available by e-mailing info@corkrdo.ie or alternatively foriordan@corkrdo.ie
Please note that this Prior Information Notice is informal and outside of any tendering process and will have no bearing on any future tendering process.  This is not a call for competition and the placing of this Notice will have no influence on any future Tender Competition and will have no influence on Prequalification for any future Competition.