A slow drive on a new highway to Limerick

SPEED restrictions on the proposed €100 million 10km dual carriageway linking South-East Clare with Limerick City could be as low as 60 kilometres per hour (40mph), it has emerged this week.

Motorists who presumed they could drive at speeds of up to 100km/h on either of the two lanes going to and from Knockalisheen, Meelick to the Cappamore roundabout near Lisnagry outside Limerick City have received an unexpected shock.
While no final decision has been made, senior engineer, Tom Tiernan has confirmed the likelihood is the speed limit for the road, costing between €100 and €120 million, will be 60kmh due to the multiplicity of junctions and access points at regular intervals.
This is despite the fact that current traffic projections completed by consultants indicate the route has the potential to be the busiest road in Clare in 20 years’ time when the average volume could be as high as 30,000 vehicles daily.
This preliminary prediction is based on a reasonable level of development in the area and economic recovery.
Mr Tiernan acknowledged the new distributor road has the potential to be a very heavily trafficked network and could be the equivalent to busiest road in Clare, which is the existing N18 between Shannon and Limerick.
A number of public representatives and opponents of Phase Two of the Northern Distributor Road have raised the issue that the new road could reduce the number of motorists using the tolled Shannon Tunnel, which could result in a higher Government subsidy to the private operators.
Contrary to public perception, Mr Tiernan insists the new distributor road will not be a motorway and will not facilitate fast-moving traffic.
“It is about distributing traffic across the north side of Limerick City and getting traffic conveniently to where it wants to go and doing it in a way that would be attractive for future development of general area.
“It doesn’t just provide connectivity east to west, it also would facilitate improved connectivity north to south for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians and all road users.
“There will be several opportunities for access onto this piece of infrastructure from the existing road network. On either side, you will have pedestrian and cycle facilities and multiple opportunities for crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.
“There will be a series of good quality junctions at the same level as the road, which will interact with existing road infrastructure and provide a means for getting from source to destination very conveniently,” he said.
Even if Clare County Council had a blank cheque to go through every stage without any delay, he explained the new route would not be operational until 2018.
Acknowledging the lack of funding for the road projects, he admitted the council would be doing well if the route is in place in 2022.