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| Bóthar N22 | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 116.33 km (72.28 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| From |  N22Limerick, N22Listowel, R875Tralee |
| Major intersections |  N70Killorglin,Dingle (N86) N23Farranfore,Castleisland,Kerry Airport N70Killorglin R876KillarneyN72Mallow,Rathmore R618Ballyvourney R582Macroom R608Ballincollig N40 Cork South Ring Road Kanturk,Blarney |
| To |  Cork City Centre |
| Location | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Primary destinations | (bypassed routes initalics)
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| Highway system | |
TheN22 road is anational primary road inIreland which goes through countiesKerry andCork, fromTralee in the west throughKillarney,Macroom andBallincollig toCork City Centre in the east.
Sections of the N22 were upgraded in the late 20th and early 21st century. 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 has been provided on the steep grade sections. The late 1980s saw a 3 km (1.9 mi) bypass of Killarney. In 2004, the Ballincollig bypass in the west of Cork city was completed. This is an 11 km (6.8 mi) dual carriageway road built tomotorway standards that connects with theN40 Cork South Ring Road. In 2005, 4 km (2.5 mi) of the road between Tralee andFarranfore was upgraded. This added to a 4 km (2.5 mi) section opened in 2002. In August 2013, a new 5.5 km (3.4 mi) section of road was added as part of theTralee N22/N69 bypass project at Ballingrelagh replacing the section of road where the N22 originally ended at theN21 John Cronin Roundabout in Ballycarty. The N22 now terminates at Camp Roundabout outside Tralee on the N22/N69 Tralee Bypass.
In 2020 works began on a newBaile Bhuirne – Macroom bypass to ease congestion through Macroom. The first phase of the project opened in December 2022,[1] with phases 2 and 3 opened in August and in November 2023 respectively.[2][3]
The N22 betweenKillarney andCork viaMacroom is theN71 which goes throughKenmare,Glengarriff,Bantry,Skibbereen,Clonakilty and finallyBandon.
Four major projects are in planning for the N22:
Additionally there are proposals for2+1 road 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 forThe 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 and three tons in weight. The most popular sculpture is that of a rearing horse, set atop a rise along the road near Clonkeen. Made fromferro-cement over a steel infrastructure,An Capall Mór, the race horse, is 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.
 | This section is missing a table that represents a list of exits or junctions. Please help byadding the missing exit or junction list.(December 2021) |
| N22 Road | |||
| Westbound exit | Junction | Eastbound exit | |
| Ballincollig (East),Kanturk,Blarney (N22) |  | Ballincollig (East),Kanturk,Blarney (N22) | |
| Ballincollig, Grange Hill |  | Ballincollig, Grange Hill | |
| Ballincollig (R608) |  | Ballincollig (R608) | |