A MASSIVE allocation of nearly €40million has been announced for public infrastructure projects, including the M20 and the Foynes to Limerick Road, which is hoped to have the long awaited Adare Bypass completed three months in advance of the 2027 Ryder Cup.
The funding package was announced today (Thursday) by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, including a further €4.04m for the continued advancement of the M20 Limerick-Cork Road project and a record greenway investment programme, with €1.8 million announced for Limerick and €2.2 million for Clare projects.
Included in the greenway funding package are proposals for a link from Shannon Airport into Limerick and Clare, aimed at bringing a huge increase in cycling tourism to the region.
The funding is hoped to see the speeding up of development on the N21/69 Limerick to Foynes (Adare Bypass) road. The package also facilitates the construction of bypasses of Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale along the N21.
The total TII funding announced for Limerick amounts to just over €39million and includes €8,090,000 for capital investment protection and renewal schemes, €28,840,000 for construction of new roads, €641,467 for maintenance, and €1,800,000 for greenways.
The announcement was met with a resounding welcome in Limerick, with local Fine Gael TD and Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell confirming that the Adare Bypass project is targeted for completion by June 2027 – three months ahead of the monumental Ryder Cup set to take place in Adare Manor in September 2027.
“I very much welcome the €24million announced for the Foynes to Limerick road (including Adare Bypass) project. Last year, government approved accelerating the construction of the bypass section of the project to facilitate early delivery of the bypass ahead of the monumental Ryder Cup being held in Adare Manor in September 2027.
“I can confirm that progress to accelerate the Adare bypass construction is very much on target. A public information notice published in recent days on e-tenders by Limerick City and County Council outlines that this key road project, with an estimated value of €170m, is expected to go out for contract tender this coming April.
“It is estimated that the contract for the project will be awarded in September 2024 with construction then getting underway and crucially, the date for completion of the bypass is June 2027”.
Limerick Green Party TD Brian Leddin has also welcomed the significant package of funding for greenways throughout counties Limerick and Clare, with a total of five greenways to be funded, including linking the Limerick Greenway to Patrickswell and Shannon with Limerick City.
“I’m delighted that there is a new package of funding that will help develop Limerick as a crossroads for sustainable tourism in Ireland, as well as providing quality links for local communities and promoting vibrancy of town and village centres,” he said.
“The funding to further projects like Limerick to Scarriff via O’Brien’s Bridge and Shannon to Bunratty and into Limerick City follows a plan, launched a month ago by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, to build out a network of safe, segregated cycleways and greenways such that you can arrive into Shannon Airport and set off in all directions on their cycling holiday for a week or two weeks. This is a real opportunity to maximise the potential of cycle tourism in Ireland”.
Limerick Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Niall Collins also welcomed the announcement, saying that “the substantial new funding allocated is hugely important for national roads and greenways here in Limerick”.
“It is part of the government’s investment in improving our national roads and greenways infrastructure. It will help ensure that our roads are safe, reliable, and accessible for everyone who uses them.”
