30,000 take stroll under the Shannon

THE National Roads Authority (NRA) has estimated that up to 30,000 people availed of a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to walk under the River Shannon on Saturday.

Thousands of pedestrians walked through the newly constructed Limerick Tunnel before it is expected to open to traffic at the end of July.
While the open day didn’t start until 10am, NRA spokesman Seán O’Neill said pedestrians queued to see the impressive €660m tunnel from as early as 8.30pm.
“It was a fantastic day out for families in the Mid-West to walk the tunnel. The NRA is delighted that the project is such a success. It is on budget and will be open ahead of its scheduled opening date of September 16, possibly by the end of July.
“It will make a huge difference for people commuting from Clare to Limerick City; it will reduce travelling times for through traffic and will help generate economic activity in the area,” he said.
Tunnel construction company Direct Route and the NRA had expected a crowd of about 20,000 but by 7pm, they believe some 30,000 people had walked through the tunnel.
The project is part of the Southern Ring Road Phase 2 development which connects the M7 Dublin and M20 Cork motorways with the N18.
After four years of construction and almost four million man hours, the Limerick Tunnel is approaching the end of its construction phase. When opened to traffic, it is expected to take 18,000 vehicles out of Limerick City centre daily, with a projection of 40,000 motorists using the tunnel by 2020.
The new route includes almost 10km of dual carriageway, 11 bridges, six underpasses and a 900m tunnel with 675m of it underwater. A toll plaza will operate for all motorists on the northern side of the river.
A special edition of the Limerick Tunnel Commemorative Book was on sale on the walk-through day and all proceeds will be donated to the Limerick branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Association, the Milford Care Centre and the Thomond House hostels for the homeless.