Childers Road Active Travel Scheme connecting East and West of Limerick City launched

Childers Road Active Travel launch. Pictured are Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State for the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications pictured with members of the active travel team, elected officials and Children from Our Lady of Lourdes NS, the Midwest School for the Deaf and Our Lady Queen of Peace NS. Picture: Don Moloney

Childers Road Active Travel

The Childers Road Active Travel Scheme, which has been completed by Limerick City & County Council’s Active Travel team and funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA), has been officially launched.

It follows the completion of the 1.5km section of the Scheme from the Ballinacurra Road junction to the Roxboro Roundabout, after the section from Roxboro to the Kilmallock Roundabout was finished in 2023.

The works have included the installation of cycle lane separators along the route, junction tightening, footpath widening, accessibility improvements, raised tables and new pedestrian crossing points at the Roxboro Roundabout to improve safety.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Councillor Gerald Mitchell said: “Walking and cycling infrastructure in Limerick continues to be upgraded at a quality and a pace that is as good as anywhere in this country. The completion of the Childers Road Active Travel Scheme is a pivotal moment in that journey, as a vital connector between the East and the West of the city centre has now come on stream. This project will provide a vital connector to link with homes, businesses, local schools and other important amenities. I’m looking forward to seeing the rollout of similar schemes across the city and county in the months and years ahead.”

Front of school safety works have also been provided at Our Lady Queen of Peace NS, Janesboro, the Midwest School for the Deaf and Our Lady of Lourdes NS, where the official launch of the completed scheme was held.

One-way traffic is now facilitated at Griffith Avenue, outside the Our Lady of Lourdes NS and Midwest School for the Deaf campuses. Footpath improvements, raised crossings and other traffic calming measures have been completed in the vicinity in conjunction with the overall delivery of the project.

The works have also included improved crossings at O’ Donoghue Avenue and Casement Avenue, with new footpaths being constructed outside the Our Lady Queen of Peace school entrance and through a green area from O’ Donoghue Avenue.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, commented: “The Government is committed to expanding our Active Travel and Greenway infrastructure network through the provision of walking and cycling facilities in our cities, towns, villages and rural areas. This commitment was demonstrated by the significant increase in funding to walking and cycling, with around €360 million allocated per annum over the lifetime of this Government. €18 million has been allocated to Limerick City and County Council in 2024 through the National Transport Authority’s Active Travel Infrastructure Programme for the progression and completion of a number of Active Travel projects this year, including the one we have launched today at Childers Road.”

“This project is extremely valuable to the local area, not only in terms of facilitating Active Travel as part of the daily commute, but also in terms of enhancing the area and providing safe and connected infrastructure for young and old alike to walk, cycle and get their exercise. It is fantastic to see such amenities being developed in our urban centres and more rural areas in line with Government policy, encouraging a move away from private car use, particularly for shorter journeys,” he continued.

The Minister concluded: “I would like to commend Limerick City and County Council, the NTA and the local community for their commitment and dedication to getting this project delivered.”

The completion of the Scheme is the latest addition to Limerick’s quickly growing Active Travel network, following the completion of the Hyde Road Scheme in December 2023.

It is anticipated further significant schemes, such as those currently undergoing construction on the Father Russell Road in Raheen and in Plassey Park in Castletroy, will be finished and ready to use later in 2024.

It was great to see a wide political support for minister @jackfchambers as he launched the Childers Road active travel scheme this morning. The scheme is a credit to the @LimerickCouncil Active Travel Team and the local councillors that worked hard to deliver the project. pic.twitter.com/mLjqdLCVYR— Limerick Cycling (@LimerickCycling) April 19, 2024

Director of Service for Transportation and Mobility at Limerick City and County Council, Brian Kennedy said: “The completion of these works is another successful chapter in the Active Travel Limerick story, and I want to congratulate the team for their hard work and dedication to the project, which has ultimately been delivered in two phases. The publication of the recent Walking & Cycling Index by the NTA shows most people want to walk and cycle more in Limerick city. Infrastructure like this will encourage them to do that in a manner that is safe and convenient.”

“This project will connect up with the Hyde Road and provide access to the city centre, while on the other side it will connect with works currently ongoing at Ros Mor which are expected to conclude in the next number of months,” he added.

Anne Graham, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority said: “The delivery of this strategically important scheme for Limerick City is a great example of how the NTA, in collaboration with Local Authorities, is working to make walking, wheeling and cycling a more attractive option. I want to congratulate Limerick City and County Council on the successful delivery of this scheme.  Its proximity to local communities will result in many more people being able to choose active travel to get around.”

The Childers Road Active Travel Scheme is considered a ‘strategic walking route’ and a part of the ‘secondary cycle network’ in the context of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy and has been developed with consideration of the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028.

More info 

Related stories