It looks like a new scheme is on the way as Limerick County Council have started the procurement of consultants for the Foynes to Limerick Road Improvement Scheme.
You could use R523 to go Ardagh - Athea - Listowel which would avoid NCW and Abbeyfeale. You'd be lucky to average 70 kph but you would be moving and much shorter than going Foynes to Listowel. I think when Adare is bypassed that the queue into NCW will be longer in distance and duration and people going to NCW (north of N21) will probably go vis Ardagh to avoid queue.
In fairness, for passenger cars, this discussion is pretty much moot, given the near non-existent enforcement of the “no-learner-drivers” rule on motorways.
Probably more of interest to tractors and other prohibited traffic, though, as they would have a chance of being prosecuted.
I think you're mixing up an earlier question with the most recent conversation above. I was asking a general question about the fastest way to Kerry once the full Adare Foynes scheme opens for general (fully licenced) traffic.
The quickest way will still be to put up with the Q into NCW. Yo will be lucky to average 60KM on that Rathkeale, Ardagh to Listowel road. Listowel to Tralee is a slow enough roas as well
Cross country is quicker and I'm assuming no queue in NCW or A'feale at 9.30 a.m (or Ardagh or Athea) It's definitely a poorer road but it's around 7km shorter so it's definitely an option in busy daylight times if your heading to north Kerry.
Edit: Google maps showing Tralee via Listowel as 5 minutes longer than via NCW.
My apologies...
No worries! 😃
Didn't realise this thread was used to discuss directions to Tralee. Think we need to get back on topic lads!
The latest video is up.
It looks like it was filmed two weeks ago as there is only one Maigue bridge beam in place. Also since it was filmed they've started the retaining walls at the Adare junction and placed the beams on the Station Road bridge.
I was free this morning so I decided to take a trip out to Adare. Two of the 3 Eastern beams have been placed and the first central span was being installed.
And a distant snap of the Station Road bridge.
Progress like this makes me think it will be done as early as March or April!
It was mentioned a few months back that they're well ahead of schedule. And seeing as they're already laying asphalt I could definitely see it finished by spring.
I think the only structures that don't have beams in place are the Adare junction and an accommodation overpass. I'd be amazed if both aren't in place before the end of Summer/early Autumn.
And the next phase to Rathkeale, when do they hope to have that section open? I know the entire route to Foynes will be done by 2030 right?
I haven't seen any public commentary on the remainder of the project but I would imagine:
For that reason, it's a little early to commence procurement on the Rathkeale-Croagh section or the Foynes-Rathkeale DC.
One interesting point to note:
The route swings from NW to W at a roundabout (Ballyclogh Roundabout) just west of Askeaton where it joins the link road to Askeaton. The section from this roundabout to Foynes could be done as a standalone section with the N69 link to Askeaton providing a bypass of the N69 from Askeaton through to Foynes. This provides an option for phasing as below
A potential uninformed speculative plan that could be explored instead of just advancing west towards Foynes with every subsequent contract.
The only reason the Croagh to Foynes li k will get into full swing is it would draw too much labout off the Adare section. I think the contract is already awarded and a certain amout of work has commenced such as archeology , clearance, support roads, fencing etc.
I suspect as the Adare element is completed late this or early next year the rest of the project will get into full swing
Just the one central section left to go.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/final-girder-installed-in-adare-ugcPost-7477755017811136512-WZT_/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABavszUBJm7U3JyzZwXWr35n-d0c-B4YghE
I looks like official works on the missing link could be starting on Monday.
Limerick City and County Council wish to advise motorists and road users that the N21 Kilgobbin to Gorteen Adare Co Limerick East Bound Hard Shoulder Closure on N21 from N21 Junction with L1427 to the start of the dual carriageway at Gorteen East Bound Hard Shoulder Closure will take place from Monday 6th July to Friday 2nd October 2026. This closure is necessary to facilitate the Road construction and Facilities Installations works.
https://www.limerick.ie/council/newsroom/road-notices/road-traffic-notice-n21-kilgobbin-adare-co-limerick-3
Sorenson/sisk awarded remainder of contract?
Nothing has been announced yet. Keep an eye out to see whose name is on the plant.
I've seen Sorensen signs facing the N21 where the earthworks have been taking place for the missing link from the M20 to the overpass over the L1424, not sure however if it means they already have the contract for the whole job to finish out the link to the M20.
Sorensen did the preliminary works for the whole scheme from Attyflin to Foynes. I think those signs have been there since then.
It doesn't mean that they (along with Sisk) didn't get the contract though.
I had a look today when I was passing through Adare
The eastbound hard shoulder along the entire length of the gap is now coned off. There was VMS signs with "NEW ROAD LAYOUT" at either end, and there was Sisk and Sorensen plant out setting up equipment like lighting at the eastern end of the stretch. Looks like there's setting up going on now for the reworking. The embankment between the L1424 overbridge and the Adare junction where the culvert was placed seems to be almost complete also. The weather recently has been fairly solid to be fair.
The L1423 bridge now has a deck so assume they will realign the road onto this in the near future. From the L1423 looking west you can now see tarmac as far as the eye can see. There's also a small stretch of tarmac east of the L1423 overbridge before the Maigue bridge.
How long will the Maigue bridge take to get to the deck being poured? Once we get to that stage the rest of the stretch will basically be complete so it's all waiting on that now.
Would like to see another drone video given the rapid progress in the last 3/4 weeks.
I think the L1423 (Station Road) is due to be realigned the first week of August. LCCC had a road closure notice for that week.
https://www.limerick.ie/council/newsroom/road-notices/temporary-closure-of-roads-station-road-l-1423
Took a detour on my way home from work. The traffic lanes have been narrowed and moved towards the Southern side.
Thanks to the slow moving traffic I managed to get a distant shot of the embankment works at Adare junction.
And finally, loads of work done on the West side of the Maigue bridge since they finished the installation.
Great pictures Cookiemunster.
Is it still 100km/h or has the speed limit dropped where the lanes have been repainted?
80km/h for the length of the works.
I wonder how ahead of schedule the project is or is it? Is a Christmas opening too far fetched a notion if weather and other variables are consistently on the construction teams side?
Came across these on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EJyWJ5HY6/
Anyone in the know willing to hypothesise how long the Maigue bridge would take to complete from here?
Apart from that, the rest of it is really coming together. The section around the Station Road overbridge will be motoring fairly quickly once traffic moves onto the overbridge.
