Confirmation of a dual carriageway M20 motorway, the developing design of the motorway, up to 100km of active travel infrastructure, transport hubs, and freight hub, along with recommended demand management measures, enhanced public transport and environmental integration for the N/M20 Cork to Limerick Project have been published this Monay.
The N/M20 Cork to Limerick Project is an investment priority for the Government’s National Development Plan. Limerick City and County Council, on behalf of Cork County Council and Cork City Council, will submit a planning application for the project in 2025, subject to Government approval.
The approach to the design of the N/M20 project is unique in Irish terms. It will not only address the major safety deficiencies on the existing N20 but introduce a suite of sustainable transport options which combined make the project highly innovative. The N/M20 transport solution will significantly enhance safety and journey time reliability for all transport users, improve the health and wellbeing of the bypassed communities, support regional and local economic growth, and implement transport decarbonisation measures from the Government’s Climate Action Plan.
Public Representatives attended a briefing on Monday by the project team on the following elements:
Dual carriageway M20 motorway with a 120kph speed limit selected, following detailed appraisal of alternative road types. The M20 motorway will be five times safer than the current N20 single carriageway and reduces intercity journey times on average by 30 minutes.
As the largest single active travel project to be undertaken in Ireland, the project will provide up to 100km of safe, shared active travel pathways connecting communities from Blarney to Patrickswell and encourage walking and cycling for work, school, and leisure, linking communities, promoting healthier lifestyles, and reducing transport emissions.
The location of Transport Hubs identified for Rathduff, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Buttevant, Charleville, Bruree and Croom. These transport hubs will feature park and ride facilities for public transport, park and share, EV charging, and will  be connected to local communities with the new active travel network.
A Freight Hub in Mallow will provide facilities for secure parking, welfare and EV charging for heavy goods vehicles in accordance with European and National transport policies.
The project will facilitate efficient public transport options, including the opportunity for  quicker intercity express bus services and improved efficiency on existing bus services.
To encourage sustainable transport choices, support Ireland’s climate action plan, and to support the maintenance and renewal of the new transport infrastructure, the project team has recommended demand management measures. These measures include distance based barrier free tolling, whereby users pay on the basis of distance travelled on the new M20 motorway. Work is ongoing to determine appropriate toll charges for the various classes of vehicles, balancing a number of factors, including the project objective to remove strategic traffic, especially heavy goods vehicles from the communities along the existing N20 to maximise safety and environmental benefits.
Further information is available at www.corklimerick.ie. Limerick City and County Council in partnership with Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport are progressing the N/M20 Cork to Limerick Project.  The project team continues to welcome feedback from property owners, communities, businesses and other stakeholders, through in person meetings, public webinars and an online feedback form. A further project update will be published in Q4 2024 (final design and fence line), with a planning application in 2025, subject to Government approval.