The £104 million Jack Lynch Tunnel, the first of its kind in the Republic, and the biggest infrastructural project ever undertaken by a local authority, was officially opened yesterday by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The tunnel was first conceived 21 years ago when the Cork Land Use and Transportation Study was devised. At the time, Cork Corporation called in overseas advisers to map the blueprint of how Cork's traffic problem and infrastructural needs could be developed into the new millennium.
The consultants pinpointed the need for several new bridges spanning the Lee as well as a complex of ring roads. The final element was to be the tunnel under the Lee linking the Mahon area to Glanmire.
Now that all elements of the plan have finally come together, traffic from west Cork heading eastward will be able to by-pass Cork's congested streets, as will traffic coming from Dublin. The result, Cork Corporation claims, should be a more benign environment for the citizens of Cork.
The tunnel has been named after the former Taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, who was unable to attend yesterday's official opening because of ill health.
However, Mr Lynch sent a taped message to the gathered dignitaries, saying how honoured he felt by the fact that his name would forever be linked with such a major project.
At the end of the message Mr Lynch sang a line from The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee, beginning, "Where we sported and played". His voice was frail and the gesture was well received.
Members of his family, including his brother, Finbarr, and sisters, Eva and Rena, were among the attendance as the Band of the First Southern Command and many flag-waving schoolchildren made it a festive occasion.
As the Taoiseach cut the tape to open the tunnel, the LE Eimear and the Port of Cork tug, the Jerry O'Sullivan, with water spouts spurting, sailed over the tunnel to join in the celebrations.
The Taoiseach and Cork's Lord Mayor, Mr Joe O'Flynn, then drove through the tunnel, becoming the first to do so. Before that there was an ecumenical blessing by Bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross as well as the newly appointed Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Bishop Paul Colton.
The tunnel was the subject of two public inquiries, and the decision to go ahead with the project was finally agreed in December 1994. It is expected that 25,000 vehicles will use it daily to begin with and that in the coming years this will rise to 40,000.
The tunnel will not be accessible to motorists until Monday, May 31st, because of the need to carry out further safety checks.