Users of Cork to Limerick motorway may pay tolls on the basis of distance travelled
Distance based barrier free tolling is among the measures that will be introduced on the long-awaited Cork to Limerick motorway.
Distance based barrier free tolling is among the measures that look set to be introduced on the long-awaited Cork to Limerick motorway.
An update on the project, which is expected to reduce intercity journey times on average by 30 minutes, has been welcomed by Cork councillors and business groups.
The project team have progressed the design and environmental evaluation over the last seven months, and have updated the public that a dual carriageway M20 motorway with a 120km/h speed limit has been selected, following detailed appraisal of alternative road types.
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 different 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.
The new road will also bring the largest active travel project to be undertaken in Ireland, providing up to 100km of safe, shared active travel pathways connecting communities from Blarney to Patrickswell.
It aims to encourage walking and cycling for work, school, and leisure, linking communities, promoting healthier lifestyles, and reducing transport emissions.
Rathduff, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Buttevant, Charleville, Bruree and Croom have been identified and locations for Transport Hubs.
These transport hubs will feature park & ride facilities for public transport, park & share, EV charging, and will be connected to local communities.
A Freight Hub in Mallow will provide facilities for 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 serving the communities between Cork and Limerick.
To improve existing infrastructure, the project will utilise over 60% of the existing N20 road corridor for developing the dual carriageway motorway or reallocation of existing road space for the new active travel infrastructure.
It's anticipated that the M20 motorway will be five times safer than the current N20 single carriageway.
Information will be available to view at Council offices in Limerick and Cork, and 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 the last quarter of this year and highlight the final design and fence line, with a planning application to be lodged in 2025, subject to Government approval.
The CEO of Cork Chamber, Conor Healy, welcomed the news, saying, “The project has been progressing over the last number of years with route selection, so the announcement is very positive.
“What’s really important now is that the project proceeds as quickly as possible, the announcement refers to subject to government approval, lodging a planning application in 2025.
“Our view would be that there is a need for urgent government approval of the project and that it needs to be submitted for planning at the earliest opportunity.
“Now to 2025 is a long time period, we need to aim to have as much work done as possible over the remainder of this year, and if it is 2025 that permission is lodged, it is as early as possible in 2025,” he said.
App?
