M20 Route Options

Road Options:

LAST February it was finally decided that the M20 would go through North Cork, following speculation that Limerick City and County Council (the lead authority on the project) had been giving serious consideration to an alternative route through Cahir.

However, much to the delight of local public representatives Limerick City & County Council and Cork County Council confirmed that after considering all of the options the scheme would be developed within the broad N20 corridor via Mallow and Charleville.

THE consultation documents propose two options in line with this commitment:

Option 1: A new motorway or dual carriageway along the existing N20 route corridor, with six route variations.

Option 2: Improvements to existing N20 road, with two variations.

One of these incorporating bypasses of Buttevant and Charleville and the other involving a dual carriageway running from Blarney to the north of Buttevant and a bypass of Charleville.

This will be combined with localised improvements to the existing N20 to address collision black-spots, road alignment and junction issues.

Rail-Based Options:

THREE rail-based options are being considered as part of the overall project with the overarching aim being to improve connectivity between

Cork and Limerick.

Option 1: Doubling the frequency of services along the existing Cork-Limerick rail line to every 30-minutes, stopping at Mallow, Charleville and Limerick Junction.

Option 2: Use the existing rail line from Cork- Charleville, with a new rail link between Charleville and Limerick using part of the former Limerick to Foynes rail line. The new service, which would also run half-hourly, would stop at Mallow, Charleville and potential new stations.

Option 3: Using the existing Cork- Charleville line, with a new rail line between Charleville and the east of the Limerick metropolitan area using a section of the existing Limerick/Limerick Junction line. Again the new service would stop at Mallow, Charleville and potential new stations.

Active Travel:

The objectives of the Active Travel element of the overall plan aims to maintain and improve connectivity between communities along the M20 corridor and those separated by the corridor and to facilitate improved accessibility between these communities.

It is proposed this be done by improved walking and cyclist infrastructure which will in turn benefit communities in various ways including supporting local business, boosting tourism, reducing traffic congestion thereby improving air quality/health and ultimately saving people money.