N20 - N24 merger

JLenno

The N24 and N20 roads are surely the worst intercity roads in the country especially the cahir - limerick section of the N24.

With all the talk of the N20 upgrade, would it not make more sense to do just one motorway offshoot from the M8 at Mitchelstown to Limerick. Limerick would benefit from a decent connection to both Cork and Waterford.

It's half the distance and presumably half the cost of upgrading the N20 plus the saving of upgrading the N24. Sounds like a no brainer to me.

marno21

The topography for this route would be far from ideal. It's very mountainous.

Also, this would be an Irish solution to an Irish problem. A half arsed one. This route doesn't overcome the fact that a lot of the N20 traffic is not direct Cork - Limerick traffic. It's of no use for Charleville - Limerick and Mallow - Cork traffic for example. The route above doesn't have any towns on it so the population around there wouldn't benefit, as they already have the fit for purpose R513, even with the trucks (Aldi).

This route also wouldn't solve the need for bypasses of Charleville, Buttevant and Mallow, or the existing safety issues such as the Ballybeg bends, or the bends southbound just after the Croom bypass ends and the road narrows.

Also, feeding all M20 through traffic directly into the Dunkettle interchange is a complete no-no. Perhaps if the Cork North Ring Road was completed it may be feasible but the Dunkettle interchange is already over-capacity and adding M20 through traffic into it is out of the question

JLenno

Thanks for the reply Marno

Rather than a half arsed solution I would raise it as a pragmatic one.

Why is the M20 project being stalled? Is it 2025 the earliest completion date being suggested now?

You say It's of no use for Charleville - Limerick and Mallow - Cork traffic. But surely the question is raised does charleville, a town of 4000, and mallow of 9000 need a motorway standard commuter connection? Even allowing for the environs?

No one disputes some of bends around mallow are lethal. But are some of the bypasses you mention really necessary? It's a pity vital improvement works are being put off for a motorway still no where near completion.

I think the points you raise below are good ones

marno21 wrote: »

The topography for this route would be far from ideal. It's very mountainous....

Also, feeding all M20 through traffic directly into the Dunkettle interchange is a complete no-no. Perhaps if the Cork North Ring Road was completed it may be feasible but the Dunkettle interchange is already over-capacity and adding M20 through traffic into it is out of the question

Perhaps some forward planning for the North link and dunkettle flyover would make more sense for the city. A motorway from mallow to cork isnt going to solve the long queues at Silversprings to get on to the North Link.

I'm no geographer but to me it looks like the current mitchelstown-limerick road is in a Valley. Has a proper study been done for the route?

Cookiemunster

JLenno wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Marno

Rather than a half arsed solution I would raise it as a pragmatic one.

Why is the M20 project being stalled? Is it 2025 the earliest completion date being suggested now?

It was stalled as the recession hit as the money wasn't there to build it. Varadker was an idiot though to stop the planning. Millions that was already spent was wasted and will have to be spent again. Which wouldn't be an issue if they'd let the process run it's course. Also it would take just as long to build a Limerick to Mitchelstown motorway.

JLenno wrote: »

You say It's of no use for Charleville - Limerick and Mallow - Cork traffic. But surely the question is raised does charleville, a town of 4000, and mallow of 9000 need a motorway standard commuter connection? Even allowing for the environs?
No one disputes some of bends around mallow are lethal. But are some of the bypasses you mention really necessary? It's a pity vital improvement works are being put off for a motorway still no where near completion.

The issue isn't that the towns themselves need the road, but that the thousands of commuters living in County Limerick and North County Cork are funneled into Limerick and Cork via the road need a better safer road. The towns do badly need to be bypassed though as the commuter traffic isn't going to transfer over to the N8.

JLenno wrote: »

Perhaps some forward planning for the North link and dunkettle flyover would make more sense for the city. A motorway from mallow to cork isnt going to solve the long queues at Silversprings to get on to the North Link.

The Dunlettle interchange has PP and is waiting for the go ahead. There are also plans for a full motorway Northern bypass for Cork. [/QUOTE]