Limerick Northern Distributor Road

Some pictures taken today. Great to see activity on the ground.

Work appears to be concentrated on the section running from Old Cratloe Road to Knockalisheen Road and from what I could make out it's still heavy earthworks. Appeared to be a lot of activity around the bridge over the Limerick-Ennis railway. The other section from Coonagh to the Old Cratloe Road was at a more advanced stage when Roadbridge went belly-up way back in 2022. No contractor or like signage in evidence. No activity on the Knockalisheen Road widening/rebuilding.

Coonagh Cross looking North - the caravans have been pushed out of the way and the roundabout is like traffic cone central.

Old Cratloe Road looking South West 

Old Cratloe Road looking North East 

Knockalisheen Road looking West 

Partial opening only at this point; a short 1km section from Coonagh (Tesco roundabout) to the Old Cratloe Road to facilitate traffic diversions while works continue on the Old Cratloe road which is currently closed from the Country Club to the Limerick/Clare border. The remainder of the current works, which will open in later phases, consists of a section from the Old Cratloe Road to Knockalisheen Road and then the rebuilt Knockalisheen Road from its junction with the new road to Watch House Cross. All of this is expected to be completed at some point in 2026 having been delayed by Roadbridge going bust and the crazy delay in appointing a replacement contractor. So it’s probably a bit early to pass any judgment on the effectiveness of this road.

Of course the further section from the Knockalisheen road to Castletroy/UL/M7 which has the potential to make a real difference to the people of Clare and Limerick was canned by Eamonn Ryan and is off the agenda for now.

Eventually being the operative word. It isn't in any concrete plan and doesn't even appear to be on the agenda of anybody that maters. Even if a senior cabinet minister (and the Limerick/Clare hinterland isn't exactly flush with those at present or likely to be anytime soon) took an interest in driving it forward and shepherding it through the decision making process, it's likely that the new project would take a minimum of 10 years to get from "let's make it happen" to "let's drive on the thing". And thats assuming that intervening variables are kept to a minimum.

That idiot Ryan has a lot to answer for.

Seriously, don't hold your breath.