Driving times between Cork and Limerick set to get shorter – as route of new N20 project is revealed

Irish Independent

a day ago

The route, which is set to bypass Mallow and Charleville, has been described as a 'key infrastructural priority' in the National Development plan. 100km of shared use 'active travel' infrastructure will also be included in the plans, as well as eight transport hubs, which provide parking for cars and bikes as a way to connect with other forms of transportation.
These will be located in Rathduff, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Buttevant, Charleville, Bruree, and Croom. Mallow is also set to receive a new 'Freight Hub', which will provide 30 HGV parking spaces as well as rest and welfare facilities for drivers.
The route largely follows its original N20 footprint, apart from significant bypasses in both Mallow and Charleville. At Mallow, the route will deviate at Mourneabbey, sweeping eastwards of the town, and splitting the towns of New Twopothouse and Doneraile, and continuing to bypass Buttevant on its eastern outskirts.
The Mallow Junction transport and freight hub will be situated due east of the town, between Parkadallane and Lackanamona.
The road will then sweep across the current site of the road, near Ballyhoura and onwards to bypass Charleville to its west. A major junction is due to be constructed at the site of the Ardnageehy Cross Roads, before the road continues through the townlands of Ballypierce and Kiltwohig on its way around the town.
From there it will continue on its own path, running almost parallel to the current road on its way to Bruree, where a new transport hub will be built even further west of the town than the current road, at Ballyteige.
Continuing into south County Limerick, the new road will skirt Banoge to the west, before joining up with the current N20 just south of Croom, at Anhid East. It will then continue on the current N20 before diverting to a brand new three leg directional junction at Gorteen, just a few hundred metres west of the current junction.
The project, which could cost up to €3 billion and get underway by 2028, will see over 80km of motorway built, while almost 200 farms and some 20 homes along the route set to be subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order by the Department of Transport.
The announcement marks another important step along the road for what many view as a vital piece of road infrastructure.
However, for some along the route, today marks the beginning of what may be a long battle in trying to preserve houses, farms, and the local environment.
Members of the public can see all the information relating to the project, including the developing deign, by visit the website www.corklimerick.ie
Public Display events are also being organised in Charleville (Charleville Park Hotel, Tuesday June 17), Adare (Woodlands House Hotel, Wednesday June 18), and Mallow (Mallow GAA Complex, Thursday June 19), all taking place from noon until 8 pm.
Maps will be also made available to view at the N/M20 Project Office in Lissanalta House, Dooradoyle, Limerick, V94 H5RR and local authority offices in Cork City, Mallow, and Limerick City.
A spokesperson for the project said: "Limerick City and County Council is progressing the development of the N/M20 Cork to Limerick project in partnership with Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport. The project is a priority investment in the Government's National Development Plan 2021-2030.
"The project team have progressed the design and environmental evaluation over the last year and now seek, with the publication of the June 2025 project update, to inform and consult with the public and stakeholders on the developing design, including the 80km of motorway, 100km of active travel, seven transport hubs and one freight hub."
"The project team continues to welcome feedback from property owners, communities, businesses and other stakeholders, through the public display events, in person meetings and a public webinar at 7pm on 24th June 2025,' added the spokesperson for the project.
'Property owners and other stakeholders within the study area will be notified by post of this update and are invited to consult with the project team, either in person, or by online or telephone meetings.'
Earlier this year, €4.5 million was allocated to the project by Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the route, which has been called on for years, set to replace one of the most dangerous stretches of road on the island of Ireland over the past decade.
In 2021, statistics showed that crashes on the N20 were four times more likely to be fatal than other roads, and substantially higher than other national roads across the country. Over 60 people had died on the road in the previous 25 years.
The group say that the new changes will reduce travel times between Blarney and Patrickswell to 40 minutes by car (120 km/h), 45 minutes by bus (100 km/h), and 50 minutes by truck (90 km/h).