Limerick Northern Distributor Road

marno21 wrote: »

What's the actual planned alignment for this road

Is it not 60km/h one lane + one bus lane in either direction seperated by a kerb median with pedestrian/cyclist facilities? With all junctions either roundabouts or traffic lights? Sort of like the Groody-Parkway except with a bus lane?

That's exactly what I thought it was yep.
Which would be a pretty textbook distributor design right now.
But some people above are saying it's just a dual carriageway. If it's just a bog standard dual carriageway it might not be fit for purpose as a distributor.

The original design document says:

"1 x 2.6m wide central reserve;
2 x 7.0m carriageways, with 2 traffic lanes in each direction;
2 x 1.5m grass verge shoulders;
2 x 2.5m two-way cycle track;
2 x 2.0m footpath;
2 x 1.0m grass verge;"

Note that there's no mention of a central barrier (and the wider median may be because there is no barrier; 2+2 roads have a 1.5 metre median, including barrier). Also:

"Design speed for the proposed mainline road is 85 kph." and "A speed limit of 80 km/h is proposed, which is the statutory speed for all nonnational rural roads". The design-speed is important to note: this is not even a 2+2 road (design speed of ~110km/h, posted limit 100)

(source: https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/lndr_route_selection.pdf )

The document does not explicitly say there will be dedicated bus lanes, but it does mention improved bus transport as a positive outcome of the scheme. Having a dual carriageway in place allows permanent bus lanes to be installed later at a very low cost, something that cannot be said for a single carriageway road

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2021/0210/1196202-moyross-road-project/

Limerick road project will proceed without delay - Ryan

The levels of traffic there are unlikely to justify two general traffic lanes anyway but the existence of them will allow traffic levels grow towards that level over time, which is not a good thing. Better to have under-utilised bus lanes and incentivise greater use of buses rather than incentivise people to drive and then be unable to implement bus lanes in the future due to a supposed lack of demand for buses.

KrisW1001 wrote: »

I really can't help thinking that Eamon Ryan has only recently read the design documents for this scheme, and that up to this point he may have been under the impression that this was a motorway. It would be consistent with the abrupt change in position.

Regarding bus lanes, the original 2012 design mentions enhanced bus provision several times, but stops short of specifying a permanent bus corridor. It's certainly possible, but paradoxically, the only way to justify a permanent bus corridor would be to complete the northern arc of this road and allow orbital bus services to use it... but that section of the road is much harder to justify.

My reading of things is he decided to 'hold the road to ransom' in order to get a commitment to open up Moyross area for walking/cycling/buses etc more. At least I've seen comments from Moyross community groups praising the green party actions on Moyross, saying they are the ones who have been fighting to get the walls taken down and get them connected to Limerick without having to drive.

KrisW1001 wrote: »

I'd buy that, except that the road project already had cycling and walking facilities included, and has had since its inception. Also, there has been no change to the LNDR project itself between him blocking it and re-allowing it. The opening of the cul-de-sacs is a separate project that could have been pushed without stopping the road first.

Which is more important to the local Community?
What are the desire lines / places along LNDR from a cycling and walking perspective currently? These facilities will perhaps really come into there own 20yrs down the road. Do the Community really want more cycling and walking connectivity along this corridor or south towards the City?

KrisW1001 wrote: »

The LNDR is also essential if you want to open out the streets for better bus transport, because without a quick, predictable alternative route, removing cul-de-sacs will just create rat-runs through residential areas.

And there's no single "community" in any area with a population of this size. What one group of people thinks is important is of no use to another... but they can still both be right.

Who is the community

One can easily remove cul-de-sacs for buses and people who cycle & walk without creating car rat-runs through residential areas. If the will was there.
Perhaps those in power locally needed a nudge and push.
Don't see much money been drawn down by the local authority for this area when looking at the recent Sustainable transport funding announcement yesterday.
https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Combined-Allocations-Final-20210203-002.pdf
Page 21/22 for Limerick City

Is it known who was awarded the contract to extend the road to Knocklisheen.