According to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the 22-kilometer route, which was finished at a cost of €280 million, would reduce the travel time between Cork and Killarney by as much as 17 minutes.

In January 2020, construction on the dual carriageway connecting Macroom with the Gaeltacht village of Baile Bhuirne got underway.

The first segment of the dual highway was formally inaugurated last December by Micheál Martin, the former taoiseach and current Tánaiste. The second piece of the dual carriageway opened in August of this year.

The last 6km of the route was formally inaugurated today.

As stated by Mr. Varadkar, the road would shorten travel times, ease traffic in the nearby towns and villages, and lower the number of people killed in accidents.

Eleven fatalities have occurred on the old route in the last few years.

“By improving connectivity between Cork, Killarney, and Tralee for business and tourism, this project will boost local, regional and national development.”

As a joint venture, Jons Civil Engineering Company Limited and John Cradock Limited conducted the construction. Ireland's Transport Infrastructure provided funding for the project.

During the building phase, 1.8 million labour hours were worked, with 300 construction workers working per day at its busiest.

When finished, the path reaches the townland of An Sliabh Riabhach on the western side of Baile Bhuirne from the eastern side of Macroom at Coolcower.

The project avoids Macroom and the Gaeltacht settlements of Baile Mhic Íre and Baile Bhuirne.

Councillor Frank O'Flynn, the Mayor of County Cork, stated that today is a significant day for the Gaeltacht Mhúscraí community.

“Air pollution in Macroom town quickly decreased by more than 50% with the opening of the first part of this project in December 2022, assisting Macroom's decarbonization process.

"For Baile Mhic Íre and Baile Bhuirne, we anticipate a comparable gain. Access to nearby businesses and schools will be safer with fewer big cargo vehicles on the road. Housing projects would find this location more appealing as a result of the enhanced connection between Cork and Killarney, the speaker added.

The rare Kerry slug, which is indigenous to Baile Bhuirne, was the reason behind the first holdup in the construction of the route. However, the road design was eventually modified to safeguard the environment of the area.

According to TII CE Peter Walsh, the project was unique in several aspects, one of which was the use of a carbon tool to document its impact, which would be helpful in project planning going forward.