N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Road Scheme, Co. Cork
The N22 road scheme comprises of approximately 22 km of dual carriageway with four junctions. The archaeological contract was split into three lots, with Rubicon successfully tendering for Lots 1 and 3. The advance works associated with the project are funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) through exchequer funding. The total archaeological cost is administered by TII through Cork County Council. Ground works had their own difficulties, as much of the scheme had poor accessibility and test-trenching in Lot 1 presented the
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challenge of a high voltage line running through much of its length. Following close consultation between Rubicon, the client and representatives of the ESB a methodology was agreed at allow mechanical excavation in the hazard zone of the overhead wires. Rubicon successfully completed test-trenching across 15 of the 22 km of the scheme and excavated 31 archaeological sites, including burnt mounds, lime kilns, charcoal production pits, a bronze age cremation burial and a ringfort, several of which were in remote difficult to access areas.
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