CONSTRUCTION on the new road linking Limerick and Cork is not expected to begin until 2027.
The long-awaited N/M20 would replace parts of the existing N20, bypassing towns like Mallow, Charleville, and Buttevant, and has long since been called for by elected representatives and members of the public.
According to recently released documents, seen by the Limerick Post, the road is due to be finished by 2031, with a contractor not set to be appointed until at least 2025.
The ‘Prospects 2023/2024’ document that was recently published by the Department of Public Expenditure gives an overview of the timeline for the delivery of the landmark road project.
The new N/M20 will deliver “80 kilometres of new and improved dual carriageway road between Cork City and Patrickswell, Limerick”, the report states.
The report also states that the project would seek to “reuse between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of the existing N20 road”.
The overall road is projected to cost over €1billion by the time it’s completed in 2031.
The N/M20 upgrade will also feature “active travel infrastructure for walking and cycling, improvements to public transport, new and improved safe road infrastructure and environmental integration for communities.”
The report states that “it is anticipated that the main contractor procurement process (i.e. tender documents issued) will occur in Q4, 2025”.
