New bike lane plan for Limerick revealed

PLANS have been unveiled for a new bike lane to connect Limerick Colbert railway station to the Park Canal.

The development, which will see both cycling and pedestrian facilities, is being delivered thanks to funding from the National Transport Authority.

A public consultation has been launched for the route the new measures will take, with the city centre campus of University of Limerick (UL) at the old Sarsfield Street Dunnes playing host to two sessions this Wednesday.

Four separate routes measuring between 800 metres and one kilometre have been identified, with the public invited to have their say.

A 'yellow' route would connect Colbert Station, before travelling through Wickham Street, William Street, High Street, before passing the Milk Market, Broad Street, Charlotte's Quay and across to the Park Canal greenway linking Clare Street to UL.

Men had to be cut from cage in tragic drowning in Limerick, inquest hears

It's intended to form part of Limerick's Active Travel network. linking Collbert Station to UL via cycling and pedestrian facilities.

In future, it's anticipated there will be further connections from UL to the National Technology Park at Plassey, plus connections to Annacotty, Castleconnell and Scarriff in Co Clare.

A 'green' route would see the bike lane take in Colbert Station, Upper Gerald Griffin Street, Pike Row, High Street, down to the Milk Market, before going into Broad Street, and up to Charlotte's Quay, before joining the Park Canal.

A third plan, outined 'blue' on the proposed map will see Colbert Station linked with Upper Gerald Griffin Street, Lower Gerald Griffin Street, Sean Heuston PLace, the Milk Market, Broad Street and Charlotte's Quay.

And a fourth 'pink' option, the longest proposal, measuring one kilometre, would see the Milk Market cut out of the equation.

Instead, a bike lane would traverse Parnell Street, Upper Gerald Griffin Street, Lower Gerald Griffin Street, St John's Square - where parking spots would need to be re-arranged - Broad Street and Charlotte's Quay.

Brian Loughrey, of MHL Consulting Engineers, which is charged with delivering the multi-million euro proposals, said: "We are allowing the public to have an input on the various route options we are looking at. We are analysing these options to see which route is best from an economic perspective, an environmental perspective, plus the impact on retail, community impact, how residents will be impacted, which is best for health benefits along with connectivity and inclusivity."

Following the public consultation this Wednesday - and the opening of a new portal which will also allow people the chance to have their say - the feedback received will be taken on board.

As well as sharing their views on the new portal, the public can also email Wickham2ClareStActive@mhl.ie, write to Unit 1B, The Atrium, Blackpool, Co Cork, or telephone 021-4840214.

Based on this, a preferred route is expected to be presented to councillors in June. This may be one of the four routes outlined, or a mix of one or more, Mr Loughrey said.

Since the project is taking place on public land, it will be the role of metropolitan councillors to vote to accept, reject or change what is outlined.

City East Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely, who was present at the consultation in UL's city centre campus said she would be hoping for a mix of the yellow and green proposals.

She said she cannot support the route which avoids the Milk Market, as it would impact on too many householders who rely on parking spots outside their homes.

"The best ones [routes] are the ones which are least impactful on residents. You can't have a situation where you have one of the oldest parts of the city, where people have parked their cars for decades and then come along and take it away with no real need," she said.

Richard Gorey of Limerick City and County Council's Active Travel team commented: "The feedback from this consultation process will form an important part of the overall Wickham Street to Clare Street Active Travel scheme. We've been encouraged by the levels of engagement from a number of different stakeholders across the city. We have conducted extensive work in terms of desktop studies on the area, but now it's time for us to merge that knowledge with the lived experience of the people of Limerick to help us in producing the final scheme."