Boss of Limerick to Cork motorway project hints at minor changes to final route plan

THERE are to be three access points in county Limerick to the new M20, it has been revealed this week.

On top of the northern terminus of the Limerick to Cork motorway at Patrickswell, motorists will only be able to get onto the €1.2bn road at Croom and Bruree.

READ MORE: Update issued on plans for roundabout at treacherous junction in Limerick

The publication of the routes this week gives the clearest indicator yet on the extent of land which will need to be acquired, with a number of buildings likely to make way and farmland to be cut up.

The maps are available online plus a further information session will take place online next Tuesday, June 24, from 7pm.

All this comes as the co-ordinator of the M20 project, Jari Howard, says that despite the final route being published with plans for an application to go to the national planning body next year, there’s still the likelihood of small changes.

This includes at Attyflin, to the west of Patrickswell and Croom, where concern remains high over access to both these areas.

Fears had been raised at a possible surge in vehicles passing through Patrickswell after the initial route of the M20 revealed access to the road will be restricted near the village. It was intended that junction five (on the current M20) at Attyflin would be closed off.

It would have meant drivers heading towards Attyflin, Killeen, and their surrounds, would have needed to exit the motorway at junction four, and drive through the village.

Motorists heading from these areas to the city would need to pass through Patrickswell before joining the M20 at junction four.

Minister of State and local TD Niall Collins said this issue has been “part resolved” and said he wants to see a flyover to connect Croom to Patrickswell, as well as the areas like Crecora and its hinterlands.

Mr Howard told Limerick Today on Live95 that the issue remains under investigation.

“There was a lot of concerns raised around local access. We’ve been addressing that, we’ve been looking at that, working together with the elected representatives. We still have some final reviews, and we’ll publish them soon. Minor changes, if any changes, will happen up there,” he said.

But Cllr Dan McSweeney said concerns remain.“The lack of progress on this issue has caused further upset in recent days for local residents. The proposed closure of a section of this junction will undoubtedly lead to an increase in traffic passing through Patrickswell,” he said.

Ultimately, the M20 will run from Patrickswell to Blarney in Cork, with motorways linking onto it at either end.

It was revealed that travelling from its start to end will be able to be done in a car in 40 minutes.

The next step on the road to the M20 is for the Government to inspect and decide on its business case.

If this happens, an application to the national planning body will follow.

If they give the green light, the project will be constructed in phases, with bypasses of Charleville, Buttevant and Mallow first.

If all goes to plan, construction of the project could begin in 2028, and it's estimated the road will take approximately seven years to be fully completed.

Mr Howard played down the fear of mass delays during the construction of the motorway.

He pointed out that because much of the carriageway will be built off the road, there will be “little if no disruption to the existing N20”.

It will only be in the final phases of construction where delays are more likely.

A number of transport hubs are planned for along the route. Charleville will see 80 car spaces and 40 bike parking spaces.

There will be a hub at Bruree, with space for 30 cars and 20 bikes.

In Croom, there will be 30 car park spaces and 20 for bikes. All these hubs will be designed for park-and-ride options, the charging of electric vehicles, and bike sharing.

The M20 will be tolled, with motorists asked to pay a sliding scale of charges depending on how long they remain on the motorway for.