Irish Cork-Limerick road upgrade worth €1.4 billion proposed

A major road upgrade project worth €1.4 billion is being proposed in Ireland for the Cork-Limerick link. Improving the road to motorway status along an 80km stretch will be a major project intended to boost motor traffic capacity but will also include measures for active travel.

The project is being reviewed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Included in the works will be transport hubs intended to allow travellers to switch between private vehicles, public transport and active travel modes. Up to eight new interchanges will be built if the proposed road improvement goes ahead as intended. The project forms part of Ireland's wider National Development Plan (NDP).

Building the new N20 motorway will improve safety as well increasing capacity on the route, reducing delays for drivers. The focus on allowing travellers to switch between transport modes is also intended to increase sustainability meanwhile.

According to an official statement, "...the N/M20 Cork to Limerick scheme would provide better connectivity between Ireland’s second and third largest cities, Cork and Limerick. It would improve the quality of the transport network, addressing safety issues associated with the existing N20 route and provide for safer and more efficient journey times. The project is a key element in Project Ireland 2040, the Government’s long-term overarching strategy to make Ireland a better country for all of its people."