Upgrade of N20 Limerick-Cork road to begin by 2027
THE UPGRADE of the N20 Cork to Limerick road is expected to start by 2027 according to the Prospects 2023/2024 Report published by the Department of Public Expenditure.
If construction begins in 2027, it is expected that the upgrade of the now national road into a motorway will be complete by 2031 at an expected cost of over €1 billion.
Prospects 2023/2024 gives timelines and updates to a large number of projects across Limerick and Ireland including BusConnects Limerick which sees the redesign and redevelopment of the city’s bus network and the King’s Island Flood Relief Scheme.
According to the document, the N/M20 project will see the construction of 80km of improved dual carriageway enhancing Limerick’s connection to Cork.
The document also states that the project will provide bypasses of the towns of Mallow, Buttevant and Charleville and will reuse between 30% and 40% of the existing N20 road asset.
The project is also set to create a new, improved and safer transport corridor for all users including walkers, cyclists and public transport patrons.
The Preliminary Business Case is expected to be submitted to the Department of Transport and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform by early 2024. It is anticipated that the main contractor procurement process (tender documents issued) will occur in Q4, 2025.