M20 - Cork to Limerick [preferred route chosen; in design - phase 3]

wingfo

The report says a junction at Blarney, I thought it was meant to connect with the New North Ring Road at Blarney, does that mean the existing N20 dual carriageway from Blarney to Blackpool will become part of the new M20 seeing as theres no mention of the NRR.

invinciblePRSTV

Edthehead wrote: »

It's not justification on its own but it is a factor when you take all our other arguments. .

Yeah but they are not exactly water tight arguments to the impartial observer are they?

Edthehead wrote: »

Our independent assessors beg to differ..

Yes i'm sure the independent assessor, who i'm sure your group compensated adequately for his services, provided exactly the kind of results you commissioned him to find out, but i'll take the rather more impartial NRAs stats & figures tbh .

Edthehead wrote: »

A lot of the accidents have happened out of peak times, its still a very dangerous stretch of road regardless of volume..

Volume has everything to do with it, without national traffic the downgraded N20 will only be taking local traffic and those taking an alternative route to the Mway, and the road is of a similar standard as any other national secondary route or R road. In short it will be a lightly trafficked route with far less chance of terrible road accidents once the M20 is built.

Edthehead wrote: »

True, but this is a very obvious place to have a junction..

Well you would say that wouldn't you?

Edthehead wrote: »

Yes but when a possible economic boost opportunity comes along we'd be fools not to fight for it. The report suggests the town will decline even more without this connection, if it stayed as it is I'd be happy enough as I like where I live but if it declines even more it may not be as attractive anymore.

Can you provide a copy or a PDF of this report you mention?

Sponge Bob

I take it that the good citizens of Buttevant were not foolhardy enough to go looking for a full junction when their only case is that they 'need' a southbound entrance and north bound exit where the M20 crosses an R road east of the town.

ilovegermany

I think it started last week.

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/motorway-service-station-too-near-city-hearing-told-125090.html

Amtmann

Just caught this article from late last July in the Examiner, relating to the oral hearing for the M20:

At yesterday’s hearing claims were made that in the current economic climate, building the €800m Cork-Limerick motorway (M20) was a shocking waste of public money.

Brian Hyde, spokesman for the Cork Limerick Alliance Group (CLAG) – which represents a number of concerned landowners and householders along the proposed M20 corridor – said it would make more sense to build a shorter motorway from Limerick to Cahir, which would then link with the M8 and Cork.

He said Cahir would become a "central hub" that could then be connected by another motorway to Waterford and the Europort at Rosslare when the economy improved.

"At least we would have a strategic link through Cahir to Galway, Limerick and Cork, Waterford and Rosslare. This would also link the M7 the M8 the M9 and M11. All of these existing motorways run south, but with no link to each other at present," Mr Hyde said.

It costs around €10m to build a kilometre of motorway.

Mr Hyde said the proposed Cork-Limerick motorway (M20) was 80km long, whereas the Limerick-Cahir motorway was just 55km long.

He added that with the saving of €250m, bypasses could be built at Buttevant and Charleville and the proposed northern relief road in Mallow could also be constructed.

Mr Hyde said lorries heading out of the Ringaskiddy container terminal for Limerick, Galway and Sligo would use the M8, instead of having to skirt around the north-west of Cork city to join up with the M20.

"The existing M8 has the capacity to take 57,000 vehicles a day so it can easily handle the extra traffic from Limerick, Galway and Sligo, via the proposed new motorway from Limerick to Cahir," Mr Hyde said.

He told Bord Pleanála inspector Danny O’Connor that the amount of traffic which would use the M20 didn’t warrant the "already overburdened taxpayer" forking out €800m.

Mr Hyde said the building of the M20 – as part of the Atlantic Corridor – might well be Government policy. "Look at where Government policy has got us in relation to the banking crisis. The result has been to mortgage this country to the hilt for future generations. Forgive us for being sceptical about government policy.

"Have we not learned from the crazy situation of building six roads from Dublin to the North? All of us here have an obligation to get this right."

Meanwhile, Fergal Duff, an environmental consultant acting on behalf of CLAG, said the construction of the M20 would represent a significant threat to the environment.

Mr Duff said many aspects of it were incompatible with the Convention on Biodiversity and UN/EU directives.

The oral hearing into the M20, which has been going on for more than a week at the Charleville Park Hotel, is set to conclude today.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfcwojgbcwey/rss2/#ixzz0zgzAYTgd

And here's an interesting one:

M20 to Become Ireland's First "Owl-Friendly Motorway
The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) has discovered that large numbers of the protected species are being killed on elevated sections of Irish motorways which have grass embankments.

Dr Jer Good of the NPWS told a Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the planned 80km Cork-Limerick motorway yesterday that lightly-built owls swooping to catch field mice and moles on the grass banks were often casualties of the suction caused in the wake of passing lorries.

He said a recent study carried out on the M8 in north Tipperary showed a very high mortality rate among barn owls. On one day last April, six barn owls were found dead on a small section of the highway.

Dr Good said studies in the Netherlands showed barn owl populations had been virtually wiped out along motorways with grass embankments. A survey in England also found 72% of barn owls flying near major roads were likely to be killed.

Under an EU Directive, he said there was an obligation on this country to protect such vulnerable birds of prey.

NRA representatives said they would take on board Dr Good’s recommendations to plant trees, gorse and scrub along certain sections of the Cork-Limerick motorway which would provide cover for likely owls’ prey.

The landscaping measures would discourage the birds from hunting in these areas, therefore, making it less likely they would be killed by passing lorries.

Prior to the motorway’s construction, a survey of all barn owls nesting within 5km of the road will be carried out.

The survey will aim to identify their hunting areas and ensure "hot spots" along the motorway are provided with plant cover.

A year after the motorway opens, a follow-up survey will also be conducted to identify the number of owls killed on the road. The survey will be carried out every 15 days over a 12-month period and will, if necessary, recommend further planting in vulnerable areas.

Dr Good said he hoped such practices would be introduced on all other motorways throughout the country.

The likely costs of the wild bird project were not divulged and not discussed at the hearing.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, July 16, 2010


Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/m20-to-become-countrys-first-owl-friendly-motorway-125213.html#ixzz0zh0AApVI

Amtmann

The last in this batch of M20-related articles.

THE M20 motorway between Limerick and Cork and the proposed M21 motorway between Adare and Abbeyfeale are among a number of costly planned projects An Taisce is describing as "ghost roads" in the making.
NRA figures show the number of vehicles travelling between Munster's two biggest cities has been in decline for three years. While falling traffic levels are being attributed to the downturn, more global factors could limit car journeys once the economy picks up again, it is being argued.
Environmentalists predict rising fuel prices will see a shift away from cars to public transport in the long-term and are questioning whether it is worth the reported j800 million to j1 billion to complete the M20 motorway which An Bord Pleanala will rule on at the turn of the year.
And Limerick's James Nix, co-orinator of Plan Better – a joint initiative of An Taisce, Friends of the Earth, Friends of the Irish Environment and Feasta – has accused the NRA of inflating the number of journeys taken on the existing N20 and other proposed motorways in its documents supporting the need for a motorway.
An Taisce is "calling on the NRA to stop proposing new motorways using false data showing never-ending traffic growth. Information used by the NRA to promote motorway schemes pretends traffic is growing when it's actually falling".
"Using a traffic growth multiplier which dates back to August 2003, the NRA assumes traffic grows by two to three per cent year on year. Even though this projection has proven widely inaccurate, the NRA continues to use it to defend plans for approximately 850km of new motorway," Mr Nix stated.
An analysis of the NRA's own data, however, showed declining traffic all the way along the road from Cork to Limerick since 2008.
At the oral hearing on the proposed M20 in Charleville last month, consultants said 19,000 vehicles per day were travelling between the stretch from Cork to Mallow. But the NRA's roadside vehicle counter at Rathduff records only 16,896 vehicles per day using the road this year, down from 18,448 in 2008.
Mr Nix points to similar data at Croom, Patrickswell and Raheen, with traffic volumes at these points decreasing by 10 per cent, eight per cent and almost 13 per cent respectively, according to the roadside counters at these locations.
These reductions were significantly higher than the national average of seven per cent An Taisce is pointing to, having analysed proposed motorways from Wexford to Donegal.
It is also higher than the 7.5 per cent traffic decline on the N21 at Adare. A motorway between Abbeyfeale and Clonshire is a longer term goal of the NRA.
A spokesman for the Road Design Office at Cork County Council this Wednesday told the Limerick Leader that it had been acknowledged at the oral hearing that traffic was declining.
"We may continue to see a reduction in the order of two per cent per annum over the next five years but then a gradual increase over the following 15 years as the economy recovers. But in planning for projects such as this, you do have to look at what might happen 20 or 30 years from now," he said.
"An Taisce did object very strongly at the oral hearing and made these points, which were acknowledged by the consultants."
In response, Mr Nix said that while the NRA "did orally acknowledge that the numbers are in decline, in their official submissions they are still working from the false figures that applied in 2008".
He also points to VRT statistics showing 22,000 Irish households shed at least one car each over the past year.
"While the NRA continues to promote new motorways, the price of oil is rising and is expected to continue doing so, with some commentators predicting sudden price surges in coming years," he stated.
Not alone was the NRA ignoring its own data on traffic volumes but it "seemed determined to turn a blind eye" to numerous reports showing the era of cheap oil was over.
Having been "ignored" by Government when opposing the tax breaks that allowed ghost estates sprout up in Leitrim and other areas of the Upper Shannon, An Taisce must now be listened to over "ghost motorways".
Mr Nix termed the NRA's plans as "a charter for gross mis-spending" and wants the Government to instead invest in public transport.
30 August 2010

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/Proposed-Limerick-motorways-criticised-as.6501837.jp

KevR

@the article posted by Furet:

I made this point in the 'NRA dismisses ghost motorway claims from An Taisce' thread:

KevR wrote: »

As far as I know, 68 Galway-Dublin buses now use the M6/4 daily. A further 54-58 buses daily benefit from much more reliable and faster journey times on the R446. The M6/4 has really changed the dynamic of public transport between Galway and Dublin in a hugely positive way.

I think the M6/4 isn't regarded by some as a public transport improvement because it also benefits private motorists. Projects that inflict huge amounts of pain on private motorists while only delivering slight benefits to public transport users (e.g. - a 24hr bus lane that only a handful of buses use) would probably get loads of praise from An Taisce.

This point definitely stands for the M20 also. The M18 Gort-Crusheen will slash journey times and improve reliability for public transport for Galway-->Ennis/Shannon/Limerick/Cork. The M17/18 Gort-Tuam will result in further improvement. The M20 is badly needed for the sake of public transport between our 2nd, 3rd and 4th cities (+ Shannon Airport and all the other towns along the way). I really can't understand why An Taisce are trying to make it look like the M20 won't benefit public transport because it most definitely will!

Hogzy

When the M20 opens it will create some serious competition between Cork and Shannon airports.

Zoney

Hogzy wrote: »

When the M20 opens it will create some serious competition between Cork and Shannon airports.

I think it may just mean people in Limerick etc. can go to Cork rather than Dublin, while Shannon also gets an increased catchment area (again, probably people who would otherwise use Dublin). Although the way things are going, there won't be any flights to catch from Shannon.

North Cork

http://www.corkcoco.ie/co/pdf/260317017.pdf

Comhairle Contae Chorca

Cork County Council

M20 Cork-Limerick Motorway Scheme,
Gooldshill, Mallow, Co. Cork.
Phone: 022-70200
Fax: 022-70220
E-mail: info@n20.ie

M20 Cork-Limerick Motorway Scheme - Progress Update – 16th September 2010

The proposed M20 Cork-Limerick Motorway Scheme will comprise of the development of
approximately 80km of new motorway extending from Killeens near Cork City to
Patrickswell near Limerick City. In addition to approximately 80km of new motorway the
proposed development will include:

• 9 Grade Separated Junctions

• Over 64km of National, Regional and Local Roads

• A number of Railway, River and Local Road Crossings

• A Motorway Service Area
An Bord Pleanála held an oral hearing into the proposed Scheme in the Charleville Park
Hotel in July of this year. Following on from the oral hearing the An Bord Pleanála decision
is due to be delivered in October of this year.
Subject to a successful outcome to the statutory procedures and subject also to availability of
funding, major construction works could get underway on the Scheme early in 2012. It is
anticipated that the southern half of the Scheme extending from Killeens near Cork City to
Velvetstown townland north of Buttevant will be progressed first as a single contract.
In preparation for this contract site investigation works are currently ongoing between
Killeens and Velvetstown and, as part of the investigative works pavement assessment works
will be carried out over the coming days to assess the exact condition of the existing road
pavement on the N20 between Killeens and Mourneabbey. These works will necessitate
short-term lane closures on the N20 in this area. However, at least one traffic lane in each
direction will be kept open at all times with the possible exception of very short-term
elements of shuttle working under the control of stop/go signs. Also in order to further
minimise inconvenience to road users the works required will be carried out on the nights of
Thursday 16th September, Friday 17th September, Monday 20th September, Tuesday 21st

September and Wednesday 22nd September 2010. On each night works will get underway at
10.00p.m. and will be finished before 6.00a.m. on the following morning.
It is not anticipated that the works will cause any significant disruption to traffic flow.
However if any queries do arise in relation to this or any other element of the upcoming
project we can be contacted on 022-70200 or 021-4821046 during normal office hours.
Outside of normal office hours contact details are as follows:
Kieran Lehane 087-2479195
Maurice Hourigan 087-2074858
Eamonn McCarthy 087-8515180
Michael Kennefick 087-2581129
The cooperation of motorists on the N20 route during these works would be appreciated and,
as always those with queries, comments or concerns in relation to the Scheme are asked to
contact us using the above contact details or by return email.
Kieran Lehane

National Road Design Office

Wild Bill

THE M20 motorway between Limerick and Cork and the proposed M21 motorway between Adare and Abbeyfeale are among a number of costly planned projects An Taisce is describing as "ghost roads" in the making.

These anti-roads folk will come up with any c**p that pops out of their a*******, won't they? They opposed a string of motorways in and around Dublin on the basis that they would only encourage more cars and get clogged up.

But, in Limerick/Cork it seems they won't do that atall atall - but will be left unused.

If they followed their own logic the very creation of the M20 would result in the cars coming.

But the Greenies don't do logic. :cool:

Hogzy

Without cars the government will be down

VRT
Motor Tax
Fuel tax
VAT on car sales
Revenue From fines

These arguements of not building motorways to get rid of cars is laughable to say the least.

Wild Bill

KevR wrote: »

I really can't understand why An Taisce are trying to make it look like the M20 won't benefit public transport because it most definitely will!

Well Kev, I can easily understand it.

They embrace the views of ideologically driven fanatics.

Their faux-"environmentalism" is a form of religion. They have their priesthood, their dogma based on faith, their belief that there is a greater good than human happiness in the here and now...and so on and on.

Recognise what they are and their bizarre and contradictory arguments are no longer a mystery.

:cool:

Sponge Bob

This Barn Owl business

http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/wildlife/news/view-article/article/barn-owl-research-project/?tx_ttnews[backPid]=56&cHash=39d45af5ce

Although they are an elusive species, and due to their nocturnal nature can be difficult to census, rough estimates would put the national population in the region of 300 – 400 pairs.

Meaning that 1 percent of all barn owls went to Tipperary to die, how odd for a bird with a range of around 60000 sq kms in the state.

Except that:

The reasons behind their decline are not fully understood, but are likely to be directly related to changes in agriculture which have taken place in the recent past. Specific alterations to the countryside which would have negatively impacted the Barn Owl population include the loss of small scale tillage, the change from hay to silage and the removal of hedgerows. The increased use of more toxic rat poisons is also likely to have played a role, as have the loss of traditional nest sites (through destruction, dilapidation and demolition) and the increased network of major roadways.

Although these are the main factors involved in the Barn Owls decline, unfortunately we are currently unaware of the extent to which each has been responsible.

In other words they don't know and want to blame a motorway that does not exist. Furthermore

Barn Owls appear to be doing better in the south-west than in other parts of the country. Cork, in particular, seems to be one of the last strongholds of the population, holding just under 30% of all known active Barn Owl sites in the country, in contrast to this they have almost disappeared from other counties in the east and north-west.

There are NO ****ING MOTORWAYS IN THE NORTH WEST !!!!!!

One potential reason behind the relatively high density of Barn Owls in Cork could be due to the fact that the Bank Vole, an introduced small mammal which Barn Owls feed on and appear to be benefiting from has been long established in county Cork and indeed the south-west in general, but is still absent from a large portion of the rest of the country. Barn Owls in Ireland are nocturnal, and they primarily hunt small mammals using their highly adapted hearing and keen eyesight. In Cork, the main prey items are Bank Voles, Wood Mice and Brown Rats, as well as Pygmy Shrews, House Mice and other prey items such as birds and frogs

Why don't we kill the prey items instead , then the owls would be hungry and would shag off to where the food is. The Bank Vole was introduced to Ireland in the 1920s as it happens.

Another introduced species is a favoured prey of the Barn Owl, The Greater White Toothed Shrew ...found only in Tipp

http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/News/NewshrewspeciesdiscoveredinIreland/tabid/528/Default.aspx

Found MAINLY in Tipp along the M8 as it happens. But the NPWS withheld this evidence to An Bord Pleanála.

Initial analysis of Barn Owl pellets from roosts within the known range of the Greater White-toothed Shrew suggests that the introduction of this latest mammal may also prove particularly beneficial for threatened predators such as the Barn Owl. On this point, John Lusby said, “The Greater White Toothed Shrew is an important prey item for Barn Owls in parts of Europe, and from looking at Barn Owl pellets collected from sites in south Tipperary and Limerick it would appear that the Owls are taking them in quite high numbers."

And The Barn Owl experts describe its presence as PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL Overall ...shorthand for don't wipe the shrews out lads. But no . The NPWS put a bum steer on the whole thing.





Also note this atlas

http://blx1.bto.org/atlas-results/alloccork.html#ref

Amtmann

I'm having trouble opening many of the EIS image documents on the Cork Roads Design Office website. Does anyone have any images of:

1) the N72 link from the M20 to Mallow
2) the proposed upgrade at Rathduff. In this case, will the current road be upgraded online or does the M20 veer offline at this point?

If someone can point me in the direction of a free dwf viewer, great. If not, could someone take a few screenshots and post them here?

charlemont

Furet wrote: »

I'm having trouble opening many of the EIS image documents on the Cork Roads Design Office website. Does anyone have any images of:

1) the N72 link from the M20 to Mallow
2) the proposed upgrade at Rathduff. In this case, will the current road be upgraded online or does the M20 veer offline at this point?

If someone can point me in the direction of a free dwf viewer, great. If not, could someone take a few screenshots and post them here?

http://www.corkrdo.ie/m20_cork_limerick_motorway_scheme_publications.php

it should work for you..i tried it beforehand, scroll down to M20 Preliminary Design - June 2009 , you can magnify it.. the N72 link veers to the north west of mallow ...

Sponge Bob

Free DWF Viewer ( does other Autocad formats like DWG too **if you tick the box on the download page **) Autodesk Design Review 2011

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=12423405

Tech3

Bord Pleanala ruling on Limerick to Cork motorway due next month


A DECISION in relation to the An Bord Pleanala oral hearing into the M20 Limerick to Cork motorway is due next month.

Hundreds of concerned residents attended the two-week hearing before inspector Danny O'Connor in Charleville Park Hotel last July.

The hearing was told that around 400 objections were received by An Bord Pleanala in relation to the construction of the motorway and Adare bypass. The oral hearing into Adare bypass was conducted in conjunction with the M20 hearing.

"Subject to a successful outcome to the statutory procedures, and subject also to availability of funding, major construction works could get underway on the scheme early in 2012," said Kieran Lehane of the National Road Design Office.

It is anticipated that the southern half of the scheme, extending from Killeens near Cork city to Velvetstown townland north of Buttevant, will be progressed first as a single contract.

The proposed M20, which it is estimated will cost j1bn, will see the building of approximately 80km of road from Killeens near Cork to Patrickswell. The proposed route will cross the N20 just south of Ballyhea, pass west of Charleville and continue west of the existing N20 to Croom bypass. The majority of Croom bypass will be reutilised as part of the new road, and the new scheme will finish near the existing junction at Attyflin.

In addition to the motorway, the project will include nine grade separated junctions, over 64km of national, regional and local roads, a number of railway, river and local road crossings, and a motorway service area.

Link

busman

FYI
It looks like to me that they are doing a geological survey on the route for the last couple of weeks, especially around Rathduff with a small drilling rig.

mcgeebers

I was worried some quotes in this week's Irish Times article relating to the new M7 opening.

In it the Minister stated no new motorway projects would be taking place over the next 25 years. By this, did he mean no exploration of new projects such as the outer Dublin orbital ring would take place, whereas the M20 has already been identified for motorway upgrade and therefore would proceed, along with other already identified upgrades along the M11, Atlantic corridor, etc.

I'd appreciate some clarity on this

Bards

mcgeebers wrote: »

I was worried some quotes in this week's Irish Times article relating to the new M7 opening.

In it the Minister stated no new motorway projects would be taking place over the next 25 years. By this, did he mean no exploration of new projects such as the outer Dublin orbital ring would take place, whereas the M20 has already been identified for motorway upgrade and therefore would proceed, along with other already identified upgrades along the M11, Atlantic corridor, etc.

I'd appreciate some clarity on this

FF will be out the door in a few months time - so we can take what Mr Dempsey has to say with a pinch of salt

Amtmann

mcgeebers wrote: »

I was worried some quotes in this week's Irish Times article relating to the new M7 opening.

In it the Minister stated no new motorway projects would be taking place over the next 25 years. By this, did he mean no exploration of new projects such as the outer Dublin orbital ring would take place, whereas the M20 has already been identified for motorway upgrade and therefore would proceed, along with other already identified upgrades along the M11, Atlantic corridor, etc.

I'd appreciate some clarity on this

I noticed that too. This is the second time the Minister has said something like that at an opening. In May 2009 (while opening M8 Mitchelstown-Fermoy) he also said there would be no new motorways after the MIUs were completed; yet, after that, the M20 was advanced and the M17/M18 went to tender. Personally I suspect he has a poor command of his brief, which is surprising, because it wasn't that long ago since he trumpeted €16 billion of capital investment, including completion of the Atlantic Corridor.

corktina

im not that happy with those designs. As far as I can see the junctions near me will be east of Mallow..East of Chalrelville and north of Croom.

If I use that to head towards Dublin (which I will as the road to Mitchelstown is truly dreadful) i will have the choice of heading From Kanturk East to mallow then north on the N20 to the new link road and then east again to the M20. OR proceed to Charleville (passing UNDER the M20)and head either North or South on the N20 to the junctions.

Problem? well, looking at the map, most people from my neck of the woods will use the back lanes from Dromina to the Junction north of Ballyhea...not very satisfactory is it!
Theres a lot of traffic using the Newmarket/Kanturk road to Charleville at the moment as part of a cross country route from as far away as Macroom and Kenmare.Even if a lot of this diverted via Mallow , there will be serious hold ups at the mallow railway Bridge roundabout.

Wild Bill

Furet wrote: »

Personally I suspect he has a poor command of his brief

Personally I think Dempsey is the token twit in an administration of cynics. A complete idiot. I recall early last year he stated that we "couldn't continue to build roads just for he sake of it".

If that is what he thought he was doing before 2009 then 'tis no wonder we are in a state of chassis.

-Corkie-

corktina wrote: »

im not that happy with those designs. As far as I can see the junctions near me will be east of Mallow..East of Chalrelville and north of Croom.

If I use that to head towards Dublin (which I will as the road to Mitchelstown is truly dreadful) i will have the choice of heading From Kanturk East to mallow then north on the N20 to the new link road and then east again to the M20. OR proceed to Charleville (passing UNDER the M20)and head either North or South on the N20 to the junctions.

Problem? well, looking at the map, most people from my neck of the woods will use the back lanes from Dromina to the Junction north of Ballyhea...not very satisfactory is it!
Theres a lot of traffic using the Newmarket/Kanturk road to Charleville at the moment as part of a cross country route from as far away as Macroom and Kenmare.Even if a lot of this diverted via Mallow , there will be serious hold ups at the mallow railway Bridge roundabout.

I agree. I normally go Buttevant-Doneriale and you come out below Kildorrery. Its much quicker esp when you are in Kanturk.

Tech3

I'm also astounded by the alignment of the proposed M20. Would it not have been better to run the motorway west of Mallow and thus having a junction at the N72 west as I'm sure the AADT here would be greater than that east of Mallow? Also some areas on the east can choose the M8 over the M20 to Cork.

Amtmann

Planning decision is due on 27 October. Given the large number of objections and submissions, it will be interesting to see what amendments will be ordered, or even if the scheme will be rejected (which would be a catastrophe).

dowlingm

tech2 wrote: »

I'm also astounded by the alignment of the proposed M20. Would it not have been better to run the motorway west of Mallow and thus having a junction at the N72 west as I'm sure the AADT here would be greater than that east of Mallow? Also some areas on the east can choose the M8 over the M20 to Cork.

I would suppose that crossing the Blackwater valley is easier on the east side. On the west side the railway viaduct and Quartertown have to be avoided while on the east side I suppose the thinking is that the M20 would relieve the east side of Mallow of Fermoy N72 and Mitchelstown N73 traffic.

As for the N73 - it used to be even worse! Along this stretch of narrow road, it used to be up and down like a bloody rollercoaster too!

corktina

tech2 wrote: »

I'm also astounded by the alignment of the proposed M20. Would it not have been better to run the motorway west of Mallow and thus having a junction at the N72 west as I'm sure the AADT here would be greater than that east of Mallow? Also some areas on the east can choose the M8 over the M20 to Cork.

No I think to the east is much eaiser as the country is flatter but the N72 link road to the M20 was supposed to go from the northern roundabout in Mallow and has been moved north a good bit (to close to the Hospital Id say) and thte new roads dont seem to tie into the N72 route to Fermoy very well. Seems to me the N72 link should cross the N20 and join the N72 to the West of Mallow.
Same with Chareltville.The junction is handy for the town but not for the main flow of traffic which will be from the Newtownshandrum Road. This traffic will have to enter the town and head either north or south on the old road to gain the Mway having passed UNDER it.

-Corkie-

Thats a balls allright. Wont it be as easy to stay on the old road imo.