Construction to begin on enchanced active travel between TUS Moylish to Limerick City Centre

Construction to begin on enchanced active travel between TUS Moylish to Limerick City Centre

Construction is to begin in May 2025 on enhanced active travel infrastructure between the TUS Moylish campus and Limerick city centre

Construction is to begin in May 2025 on enhanced walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure between the TUS Moylish campus and Limerick city centre following the awarding of the project contract to P&D Lydon following a tender process.

The project is being fully funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA), and the Active Travel link will provide improved facilities for people to walk, wheel or cycle between the Moylish roundabout and the junction between Belfield Gardens and the Ennis Road, along with a new bus lane and significant landscaping improvements.

The works will include footpath upgrades and segregated cycle lanes along the Cratloe Road, Sexton Street North and High Road, along with a number of dedicated crossing facilities, intended to improve safety for all road users.

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An inbound bus lane extending along the Cratloe Road from the Moylish Roundabout to Hassett’s Cross will also be provided, along with upgrade works to bus stops, side road junctions and new road surfacing.

Landscaping and planting works will also form a key element of the project across the entirety of the route, enhancing the area’s vibrancy and the local environment. These works will include the planting of more than 100 trees, native hedge planting, rain garden planting, a wildflower meadow, a floral lawn and bulb planting along the route.

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, said: “A key strategic priority of the More for Limerick Programme is for Limerick to be at least well on the way to achieving the status of Ireland’s first city with a fully integrated Active Travel network by 2030. The TUS to City Centre project going to site, which I really welcome, is another significant step towards that goal becoming a reality. The North side of the city centre has real potential for significant future growth and enhancing the infrastructure in the area unlocks that potential. Actioning the signing of this contract means we can all now look forward with confidence to the day coming soon that hundreds of people travelling to school, university, work or even Thomond Park on match days will be able to do so in greater safety, all the way from Moylish to the city centre and back.”

The works were approved by Councillors via a Part 8 planning application in December 2022, following a statutory public consultation process.

Cathaoirleach of the Limerick Metropolitan District, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon commented: “This project is another testament to Limerick City and County Council’s vision of ensuring a safer, more sustainable Limerick for all. I welcome the collaboration of all stakeholders in bringing this project to site, and look forward to seeing the positive impact this scheme will have on the North side of the city. It will enhance accessibility for people to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle, as well as availing of public transport, contributing to Limerick’s continued growth as a modern, thriving city.”

Construction on the overall project is to get underway in May and is expected to take approximately fifteen months to complete.

Senior Engineer with the Active Travel team, Sean McGlynn, added: “Limerick’s Active Travel story is adding another chapter with the beginning of this key project on the North side of the city. Connecting an important educational institution such as TUS to the overall network is hugely important. We’ve been engaging with the stakeholders in the area consistently, both pre and post planning approval, and we know there’s a huge appetite in the area for this to be delivered. Ultimately, when built, the project will allow those living, working and studying in the area to make more sustainable transport choices and be safer while doing so, which will have huge spin-off benefits to the local and wider community.”

This project has been progressed on the basis of the recommendations of the Limerick Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS), which identifies a number of Primary Radial cycling routes in the Limerick Metropolitan Area. These include the Caherdavin to Sarsfield Bridge route via Cratloe Road, Sexton Street North, High Road, Belfield and Clancy Strand.

LSMATS also identifies the Cratloe Road Section between Moylish Roundabout and Hassett’s Cross as a Core Bus Corridor for main spine routes that connect outer neighbourhoods and suburbs to the city centre.

The project received an allocation of €3.4 million in funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2025.