M20 Cork to Limerick road set to be tolled

THE long-awaited M20 Cork to Limerick road looks set to be tolled, and is expected to be five times safer than the current N20 single carriageway.

A dual carriageway motorway with a 120km/h speed limit, reducing intercity journey times on average by 30 minutes, is proposed, after detailed appraisal of alternative road types, according to the latest update from the project office. 

The update has largely been welcomed by councillors and business leaders, with one councillor saying: “I’d love to see it if the new road was there in the morning”.

However, one TD said “the idea that the road could be tolled is a concern”.

The N/M20 project team has recommended distance-based, barrier-free tolling to encourage sustainable transport choices, support Ireland’s climate action plan, and support the maintenance and renewal of the new transport infrastructure. Work is ongoing to determine appropriate toll charges, balancing a number of factors including the objective of removing heavy goods vehicles from communities along the existing N20.

Transport hubs 

Rathduff, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Buttevant, Charleville, Bruree, and Croom have been identified as locations for transport hubs along the route, which will feature park and ride facilities for public transport and EV charging.

A freight hub in Mallow will also provide facilities for parking, welfare, and EV charging for heavy goods vehicles.

To improve existing infrastructure, the project will utilise over 60% of the existing N20 road corridor.

“The project has been progressing over the last number of years with route selection, so the announcement is very positive. It brings certainty of the plans and route, and the combinations of transport hubs freight hubs and active travel,” said Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy.

“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.”

Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan told The Echo the update is “a huge milestone on the journey to connecting Cork and Limerick”.

“This is really going to take the pressure off of places like Charleville and Buttevant, where they’d be carrying a real burden with traffic and also fatalities unfortunately.

“The idea that the road could be tolled is a concern,” he said , but added that the transport hubs and connectivity to public transport are huge benefits.

He welcomed that they still look set to lodge planning in 2025, saying: “We’ve seen the whole journey with the N22 Macroom bypass, so we’re well familiar with the job out ahead of us. I’m conscious that there’s a lot of work still to do.”

Progress

Fine Gael councillor for Mallow Liam Madden told The Echo the news was huge for people in the communities like his own along the current N20 route. “I’d love to see it if the new road was there in the morning.”

“At the moment, we’re trying to get safety measures on the present N20,” he said, explaining it will be many more years before the road is completed; in the meantime, “traffic is increasing and we’re finding it harder to cross the road”.

“Every time we get an update, there’s huge progress. Our big thing now is how it will be financed. Twelve years ago, this was ready to go and the next thing, everything went away.”

His ward colleague, Labour’s Eoghan Kenny, shared his enthusiasm: “This is very positive news. It’s vital that there is a motorway connecting the second and third largest cities in the country.

“This is a vital step towards addressing the road safety issues that are very prevalent on the current N20, while it also is very positive in terms of social and economic growth in major towns like my own in Mallow and the various towns and villages on the road.”

Momentum

He added: “The road is on track to go to planning by the start of 2025, it is important that this project continues to be funded by [Transport Infrastructure Ireland] and Government to maintain the momentum on the project. All in all, today is a very positive day for Cork.”

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, webinars, and an online feedback form.

A project update highlighting the final design will be published in the last quarter of this year, with a planning application to be lodged in 2025, subject to Government approval.