Crowe welcomes imminent commencement of works on the Limerick Northern Distributor Road

Clare Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe has welcomed the imminent commencement of works on the Limerick Northern Distributor Road and has called for clarity on the plans for the second phase of the project.

The much-anticipated project will be delivered in phases, with a dual carriageway between Coonagh and Knockalisheen scheduled to open in 12 months.

According to Deputy Crowe: “Following recent correspondence with Limerick City and County Council, I am delighted to hear that works to build Phase 1 of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road are likely to commence next week. It is the intention of the contractor, Wills Bros Ltd, to have machinery working on the phase of the road that links Coonagh, Limerick City, with Knockalisheen, Meelick.

“Locals in Southeast Clare have waited in anticipation of this project for many years and there have been several false dawns with contractors completing parts of the project before withdrawing from it. I am confident that this new contract that has been awarded will see the road being completed and commissioned for public use in 12 months.

“This road will take pressure off my home village of Meelick in particular and will also alleviate traffic congestion in the northern suburbs of Limerick City.

“I am concerned, however, that the road will terminate at a roundabout to be built at Knockalisheen. From here, motorists will re-enter a narrow local road system and for this reason it is imperative that some clarity is given on Phase 2 of this project which will see the road progress from Knockalisheen, in an eastward direction, ultimately linking up with the Castletroy area of Limerick City and providing access with the University of Limerick campus.

The scheduled works will include 2.1km of new urban dual carriageway with two carriageways, footways, cycleways, verges, embankment construction works and three new roundabouts.

In preparation for the works, Limerick City and County Council have taken legal action against at illegal encampment at the Coonagh end of the road project and Deputy Crowe says compensation should not be negotiated with those living there: “I have written to senior officials, along with the Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, urging that compensation not be paid to those who are illegally camped at this location.

“Phase 1 of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road will be costly enough to the public purse without an additional compensatory package being paid. From the get-go, the encampment has been illegal, and it must be treated as such. It cannot be an impediment to this road being built but equally it cannot be used as a ransom to the local authorities.”