Step forward for M20

The preferred route for the planned Cork to Limerick motorway has been chosen after a year-long study. The Cork to Limerick scheme will be built broadly along the current N20 corridor via Charleville and Mallow, it was announced yesterday. 

Elected representatives from the region were informed of this decision and updated on progress on the Cork to Limerick scheme at a briefing held yesterday, 19 February, in Charleville.

The M20 Cork to Limerick motorway scheme had previously progressed through planning and design phases and the scheme was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in 2010 for statutory planning approval. Prior to a determination being made by An Bord Pleanála, the project was withdrawn in 2011, due to the economic downturn.

The N/M20 project team has now almost a year of work completed based on the Public Spending Code requirements, which requires consideration of all potential options including bus and rail public transport alternatives.

It’s believed that this chosen route will provide the highest level of traffic relief to towns and villages as well as the highest journey time savings between Cork and Limerick.

Public consultation will take place in the latter part of this year, with the preferred option within the broad N20 corridor identified soon after. The Public Spending Code requires that the scheme develop a business case, which needs Government approval before it can be published and submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

Work on this will continue for the coming years as the scheme proposal develops.