2 days ago
Maps showing specific route of Cork to Limerick motorway to be unveiled
The final route for one of Ireland's largest ever road projects — the 80km Cork to Limerick motorway — is to be unveiled on Monday.
It comes ahead of the launch on Wednesday of public consultation on plans for eight new commuter rail stations in Cork, for a new train depot, and for the electrification of the fleet to enable up to a 10-minute service frequency on the city's three commuter lines to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow.
After years of design, analysis, and consultation, detailed maps will be published showing the specific route of the N/M20 Cork to Limerick motorway, which will bypass several congested towns, and include 100kms of active travel infrastructure, seven transport hubs, and a freight hub at Mallow.
The entire scheme could cost between €1bn and €3bn to deliver.
The road will impact hundreds of farms and more than a dozen residential property owners, with some homes set to be acquired and demolished.
The maps will be presented to elected public representatives first before going on public display for more consultation this week.
They will show the exact location of the road, its various junctions, interchanges, and off ramps, right down to where the fencing will be erected.
Any changes made in the weeks and months ahead will be relatively minor to accommodate local concerns, if and where possible.
Members of the project team will display the maps at public display events which will take place from 12pm to 8pm at: The Charleville Park Hotel on June 17; the Woodlands House Hotel, Adare on June 18; and the Mallow GAA Sports Complex on June 19.
The team will continue to take feedback from property owners, communities, businesses and others, through the public display events, in person meetings and a public webinar at 7pm on June 24, project spokesman Jari Howard said.
The maps will also be available on the project website from 2pm on Monday, at the N/M20 Project Office in Dooradoyle, and at local authority offices in Cork City, Mallow, and Limerick City.
The huge transport project has been described as a priority investment in the government's National Development Plan 2021-2030.
The N/M20 will replace one of the most dangerous roads in Ireland, providing a road five times safer than the existing single carriageway, and provide one of Ireland's largest single active travel networks.
Once this round of consultation is finished, the project team will prepare a detailed business case for submission to government, with cabinet approval required before a planning application can be made.
It is hoped that the project could be ready for submission to An Bord Pleanála by the middle of next year.
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