Limerick active travel scheme progresses

From next Monday, there will be traffic management in place on Father Russell Road, as the active travel plan progresses. 

The works will be done overnight between 6pm and 6am and will involve major resurfacing for five nights from July 1 until July 5. 

The active travel team hope to minimise potential travel disruption for residents, businesses and commuters by having the works outside peak work and retail hours. 

Surfacing from Racefield Roundabout to the Gouldavoher residential area has already been completed, along with associated surfacing works at the 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, said: “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 and 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.”

The 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.

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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.

The progress comes as initial mobilisation works have begun on the site of the planned R510 Raheen to Quinn’s Cross active travel scheme, which will connect with this project, with construction work on that to begin when the Father Russell Road active travel scheme is completed. It will also connect with the St Paul’s to Ballykeefe Active Travel Scheme which has received planning permission and is anticipated to go to construction at a later date.

The scheme is funded by the National Transport Authority.