Key Active Travel corridor on West side of Limerick city launched as Father Russell Road Scheme officially opened

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran and Minister James Lawless TD, pictured with local representatives and children from St Paul’s National School at the launch of the Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme. Pic: Don Moloney

The Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme an “important element of making the Raheen/Mungret area a true ’15-minute neighbourhood’”

The Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme in Raheen, 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. 

The project, which is around 1km in length, provides significant pedestrian and cycle facility upgrades between Racefield Roundabout and the entrance to Gouldavoher residential area.

The official launch of the project has taken place at St Paul’s National School, Dooradoyle, which will have many students and staff living locally who will directly benefit from the new facilities.

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The scheme includes footpath upgrades and segregated cycling infrastructure along the length of the route, upgrade works to bus stops on the route, upgrade works to side junctions, new road surfacing and significant landscaping enhancements.

The footpath and cycling facilities at Racefield Roundabout have also been upgraded, along with overall improvements to crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists at junctions.

The project is a key element of the Active Travel network on the West side of the city. On the Racefield side, it will connect with the Raheen Roundabout to Quinn’s Cross Active Travel Scheme, which is currently under construction. On the other side, it will connect with the St Paul’s to Ballykeefe Active Travel Scheme, which has received planning permission and is expected to go to site in 2025.

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran said the completion of the city’s Active Travel network continues to be carried out “at a high standard and a quick pace”.

The Mayor noted, “Strong pedestrian and cycling infrastructure on the West side of the city that is accessible for all will provide an important element of making the Raheen/Mungret area a true ’15-minute neighbourhood’.

“This project will provide a vital connecting piece to link what is a heavily populated residential area to the Raheen Industrial Estate and the city centre in time. I’m looking forward to the continued rollout of Limerick’s Active Travel network in the months and years ahead, keenly supported by funding from the NTA and the Department of Transport.”

The completion of the Scheme is the latest addition to Limerick’s quickly growing Active Travel network, following the completion of the Childers Road Scheme in April 2024.

Projects in Plassey Park in Castletroy and near Ros Mor on the Old Cork Road are anticipated to be completed before the end of the year.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless TD, said since the “significant increase” in Active Travel Funding from the Government “it is great to see such projects come to fruition”.

“The Father Russell Road scheme combines improvements for pedestrians and new segregated cycling infrastructure, with enhanced bus stops and landscaping,” Said Minister Lawless, adding, “Like the many other schemes delivered by Limerick’s Active Travel team, it can act as a model for further development of the city’s cycle network in years to come.”

While twenty trees along the road were removed to construct the Scheme, they have been recycled as part of a natural play area that has been developed in Le Chéile National School, Roxboro Road. A further 50 new trees have been planted along the Scheme, which will consist of a mix of native, naturalised and climate-resilient species.

Native wildflower meadows, spring and summer bulbs and shrubs have also been planted as part of the project, with assistance from the Active Travel team’s dedicated Parks & Landscape Officer.

The Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme was allocated €2 million in funding by the NTA in 2024, €1 million in 2023 and €200,000 in 2022.

Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority (NTA), believes the launch of the scheme in Raheen is “a great example of how we are providing people in local communities with more sustainable travel options”.

The NTA CEO said, “The recently published Walking and Cycling Index found that, every day, those who walk and cycle take nearly 32,000 cars off the road in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area. By further improving our active travel infrastructure in Limerick, we will encourage more people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for their everyday journeys.”

The Father Russell 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 2040, and has been developed with consideration of the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028.