Active Travel infrastructure works progress with Raheen projects

 Construction on Active Travel infrastructure on R510 from Raheen to Quinns Cross to begin

Limerick City & County Council’s Active Travel team continues to make significant progress on construction in Limerick City areas with projects in Raheen

As remaining surfacing works commence on the Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme, Construction is set to begin on Active Travel infrastructure in Raheen along the R510 to Quinn’s Cross roundabout. 

The remaining surfacing works on the Father Russell Road project are to be completed overnight for five nights between Monday 1st July and Friday 5th July between the hours of 6am and 6pm. 

A traffic management system is in place during these works and restricted traffic movements during working hours are expected and noise monitoring will be carried out on a regular basis. 

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This night time work is intended to minimise any potential traffic disruption these works may cause for residents, businesses and commuters within the vicinity of the road. It will also prioritise the safety of all road users and working personnel on-site. 

Surfacing from Racefield Roundabout to the Gouldavoher residential area has already been completed, along with associated surfacing works at junction. Overall works are expected to be finished before the end of July 2024, having begun back in October 2023. 

Senior Engineer with Limerick City and County Council’s Active Travel team, Sean McGlynn, commented: “We’re excited that work on this really critical Scheme on the Father Russell Road is approaching its final stages. It is a key piece of infrastructure to enhance the safety of the many residents who regularly walk or cycle along the route for work, school or recreational purposes. These night works, along with various road lining and signage installations, are the final key tasks to be completed to finish out the project. 

He added: “We know from the National Transport Authority’s recent Walking & Cycling Index survey that the majority of people in the Limerick metropolitan area want to walk, wheel or cycle more. This project will allow for road users in the Raheen area to make those sustainable choices as they travel in the future. The Active Travel team and our contractor P&D Lydon would like to thank all residents and businesses in the locality, who have shown great patience as work has been carried out over the last number of months.”

Construction is to begin on Active Travel infrastructure in Raheen along the R510 to Quinn’s Cross roundabout shortly, and the link will provide dedicated pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities between Quinn’s Cross Roundabout and Raheen Roundabout.

The project is approximately 980 metres in length and will include improved traffic lane widths, upgrade works to bus stops, side road junctions and new road surfacing along with associated landscaping works. 

The Scheme also includes Safe Routes to School infrastructure being provided at the front of St Nessan’s National School, which is where the project’s programme of works will begin. This section is anticipated to be completed before the beginning of the 2024/25 school year. 

The Father Russell Road project will see upgraded footpath facilities along the road between Quinn’s Cross Roundabout and the junction with the Gouldavoher residential area, along with segregated cycle lanes, which will lead to safer conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

Pedestrian and cycling facilities at Racefield Roundabout have also been upgraded during the works, along with upgrades to bus stops along the section of the Father Russell Road, including the provision of a new bus layby. 

Associated landscaping works include the planting of 38 new trees, with Ornamental Pear, Wild Cherry, Oak, Sweet Chestnut, Beech and Hornbeam trees all being newly planted. 

Both the Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme and the upcoming R510 Quinn’s Cross to Raheen Active Travel Scheme are being delivered by Limerick City and County Council’s Active Travel team and are being funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme has been developed with consideration of the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 and is contained in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040.

Senior Engineer with the Active Travel team, Sean McGlynn, commented: “The Active Travel network on the West side of the city is really coming together. This project will link with the Father Russell Road project in Raheen which is now almost completed. It will eventually facilitate onward connections to the city centre via the South Circular Road Active Travel Scheme and the St Paul’s to Ballykeefe project, which have both received planning permission.

 He continued: “The R510 is seen as forming a part of a key primary route in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy, which sets out the framework for local transport policy. Ultimately, this project will allow those living and working in Mungret, Raheen, Dooradoyle and surrounding areas to walk or cycle in their vicinity in a far safer manner. Work at St Nessan’s National School, which is being delivered as part of these works, will allow pupils there to have safer and more sustainable choices when travelling to and from school.”

The project received an allocation of €1.25 million in funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2024, having been allocated €785,000 in 2023.

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