Funding of €900,000 for the design of bypasses for Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale has been announced, as part of overall funding of €10m for Limerick’s national roads in 2019. The funding also includes €1.4m to continue the design of the Limerick to Foynes road, including the bypass of Adare, €2.2m for Limerick to Cork motorway design works, and €500,000 for the Cahir to Limerick Junction road on the N24. Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the funding, saying that the indicative routes for the bypasses of Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale could be ready by the end of the year, while funding of €900,000 will allow design work to begin on the two relief roads.
“Including Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West for early stage funding now is vital, because work is continuing to progress on the design of the bypass of Adare, and the Foynes road to Limerick,” the minister said. “Once that road is started, and possibly completed in stages, the traffic problem will move on to the other towns. So, starting now to put a plan in place for them is absolutely critical.”