Government support for the construction of the first phase of the Limerick  northern distributor road from Coonagh to Knockalisheen has been widely welcomed.

On completion, the road will provide a welcome bypass of Limerick City for local motorists travelling to Dublin.

Minister for Housing and Local Services Michael Finneran, announced the Government’s commitment of €33 million which will kick start the project as part of phase one of the implementation plan for Limerick regeneration.

Reaction from Clare was led by Mayor Tony Mulcahy who said the announcement provides a significant boost to the project, which will eventually bypass Limerick City Centre by linking the Coonagh roundabout to the Dublin Road adjacent to Annacotty.

“Once completed, this project will link Coonagh with Parteen and Ardnacrusha before crossing the River Shannon to UL and the Dublin Road. 

“This vital piece of infrastructure will greatly ease traffic congestion in and around Limerick City and will  be of great benefit to the people of South East Clare, as well as Limerick City and its environs”, he added.

Fianna Fáil councillor Cathal Crowe who has campaigned for the relief road also expressed his delight with the funding announcement.

According to Cllr Crowe the northern distributor road is a vital piece of infrastructure for both South-East Clare and Limerick City.

“With the Limerick Tunnel now completed the building of the northern distributor road has become all the more important. Failure to build this road would be like completing a jigsaw with a vital piece missing.

“For many years the roads of Meelick, Parteen and Ardnacrusha have been used as a 'rat-run' by motorists trying to avoid the daily traffic congestion of Limerick City.

“It is also important from a landowner's point of view that the northern distributor road is finally coming to fruition. For the last two years these people have had to put any future plans for the lands on hold”.

When built the northern distributor road will take a 3km route from Coonagh roundabout to the Knockalisheen Road in Meelick. In addition a 1.7km stretch of the Knockalisheen Road will be upgraded.

Cllr Crowe claimed that for many years there was a widely held belief that the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road was a pie-in-the-sky project. However he said, “the allocation of funding towards the project is proof of the government's commitment to an enhanced roads infrastructure in the region”.

Tom Coughlan, Clare county manager and a director of the Limerick regeneration agency said the Government’s commitment of €33million to the first phase of the project represents a significant step towards the commencement of work on the road project.

“The preliminary design for the first phase of this major project has recently been completed and the project will proceed to CPO stage. The first phase of the Northern Distributor Road will be delivered by Limerick City Council”, he stated.

Mr Coughlan confirmed that Clare County Council has recently been allocated €400,000 by the Department of Transport to proceed to the planning and design stage of the remainder of the northern distributor road project. He added that the council was presently in the process of procuring consultants.