Large cylinder trucks spark delay at busy Limerick junction

DRIVERS going through a busy junction in Limerick had a surprise this evening after being held up by four big lorries shaped like cylinders.

Their presence at O'Rourke's Cross, to the south of the county on the main Limerick to Cork road, saw garda intervention to ensure safe passage for everyone.

It meant there were tailbacks on the Limerick side of the junction, near Bruree and Banogue.

Many commuters heading toward south Limerick and Cork took longer to get home, taking more circuitous routes home down quiet country roads in order to avoid the congestion.

It's not clear what is inside the heavy haulage trucks, which are shaped as large cylinders.

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But one thing is for sure - the delays led to some confusion as commuters waited to see what was going to unfold. The same occurred on a number of occasions already this year in this area.

It is understood that a lot of planning and work goes into the safe passage of the trucks for all road users.

One commuter, who did not wish to be identified, said she waited at the petrol station at O'Rourke's Cross to see what was unfolding.

There, she joined other customers facing delays.

"I didn't know what was going on. The truth is, I felt they might have been transferring a prisoner. There was a lot of head-scratching. People had their phones out waiting for what it was going to be. I saw the big truck coming into view on the horizon. And there wasn't one, but four," said the driver, who contacted LimerickLive.

The scene were a source of chatter with people waiting at the area's garage to see why the gardai were halting the traffic from the Limerick side. The junction was cleared within 15 minutes.

Indeed, for some younger people, it was like Christmas had come early with the sight of the giant trucks in motion!