Further details on M20 Cork to Limerick road revealed as engineers hone route design

Further details on M20 Cork to Limerick road revealed as engineers hone route design

The width of the corridor needed for the M20 Cork to Limerick transport project has been more than halved, lessening the impact on landowners as engineers hone the route design.

They have also added another 20km of active travel infrastructure to the project to bring to 100km the total amount of walking and cycling infrastructure on what will be the first-of-its-kind multi-modal transport scheme in the country.

The details emerged on Monday as engineers working on the massive scheme, which could cost at least €1bn to deliver, briefed public representatives on design progress since the preferred route corridor and transport solution was unveiled in March 2022.

That initial proposal followed consideration of public feedback on a consultation process which took place in late 2020 and early 2021 on a number of road-based and rail-based options which it was deemed could feasibly be delivered within a 500m corridor between the two cities.

It proposed re-using up to 40% of the existing N20, and building 80km of high-quality dual carriageway. It also proposed upgrades to the rail link between the two cities with the development of an hourly, “no change” train service. It proposed a 30-minute reduction in journey times for express bus services, and some 80km of active travel infrastructure.

Update

But in Monday’s update, the project team said the mainline corridor had now been reduced from 500m to 200m, dramatically reducing the amount of land that will be impacted. Property owners will be notified by post and invited to consultations.

A further reduction identifying the proposed ‘fence line’ for the scheme will take place over the next 12 months, they said.

Other updates included details on the provision of transport hubs to facilitate interchange to public transport services, to car sharing and active travel, as well as EV charging facilities, and on the provision of a freight hub to provide heavy good vehicle parking, welfare, and en-route EV charging facilities.

The design team has also identified the location of most of the main junctions, link roads, side roads and active travel corridors.

Engineers said they were still looking at opportunities to enhance public transport and encourage transfer to bus and rail, and at developing best practice for environmental, biodiversity and carbon management.

The updates follow consideration of extensive public feedback over the last 18 months or so, and of evolving climate, environmental and transport policy, the team said.

The updates will also be outlined at a public online webinar on Wednesday evening, with details on corklimerick.ie.

The next big project update, which will include a draft design of the scheme showing the narrower fence line, is due in the second quarter of next year, with the final design due for publication in the final quarter of 2024, at which point the design team will seek Government approval to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála, with an oral hearing likely.

It is only if planning is approved that tenders can be published, which means construction is several years away yet.

The project is being advanced by Limerick City and County Council in partnership with Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport.

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