Fears that M20 could spark traffic gridlock in Limerick town

FEARS have been expressed of traffic gridlock in Croom town centre once the Limerick to Cork M20 motorway is complete.

Independent Ireland councillor John O’Donoghue was speaking ahead of a final plan for the €1.2bn link being published this month.

He says there is a need to “save the main street” of Croom and has called for the completion of an orbital route around the town ahead of the completion of the M20.

READ MORE: Students “bring a powerful and unique voice to Limerick’s cultural landscape”, says Mayor Moran

As it stands, he says this “doesn’t seem to be in the equation”.

The existing N20, which bypasses Croom, has, the Adare-Rathkeale councillor argued, stopped agricultural vehicles and learner drivers using Croom’s streets.

But the existing bypass is earmarked to be upgraded from a national road into motorway status.

Once this happens, access to the road will be prohibited to certain vehicles, including those with engine capacities of 50cc or less, those which cannot maintain a speed of at least 50 kilometres per hour, and vehicles with non-inflated tyres.

Additionally, pedestrians, cyclists and those moving animals are not permitted on motorways, and it’s sparked fears Croom’s streets will be left to pick up the slack.

Since Croom was initially bypassed by the N20 in June 2001, the town has thrived, said Cllr O’Donoghue.

But with the restrictions on who can use motorways a lot tighter than on national roads, he fears a return to how things were before the bypass was built.

“If you go back to the old days, when Croom was only a small spot on the road between Cork and Limerick, you will go back to this identical situation where agricultural vehicles and L-plate drivers will have to come through Croom,” he said.

The councillor believes the bypass has allowed Croom to thrive where many rural towns and villages have not been able to.

As things stand, traffic can back up in Croom during the morning and evening peak.

The change from the Croom bypass from a national road to a motorway “will add complete chaos and confusion,” he argued.

“We are not being offered an alternative,” added Cllr O’Donoghue.

His concerns were echoed by Patricia Ryan of the Croom Development Association.

She said: “Essentially we are already going to be looking at a bigger population in Croom with additional houses. So we are going to have a busier Main Street and that’s even before we get to the M20 being built.”

Jari Howard, M20 project co-ordinator at the council’s Mid-West’s roads office played down the impact.

He said: “The vast majority of vehicles will still be able to use the motorway.”

He acknowledged some traffic will be pushed into the town.

“But the numbers are a lot smaller,” he added, stressing his office remains open to feedback.