A key link in Limerick City’s active travel network, the Childers Road project, was officially opened yesterday by Limerick City and County Council.
The council highlighted how the completion of the 1.5km section of the Scheme from the Ballinacurra Road junction to the Roxboro Roundabout, follows the opening of the section from Roxboro to the Kilmallock Roundabout in 2023. It also connects to the Hyde Road walking and cycling route which was opened last year.
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.”
He added: “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.”
As well as a segregated cycle path the work also included safety and accessibility measures such as junction tightening, footpath widening, raised tables and new pedestrian crossing points. Front-of-school traffic calming was also provided at Our Lady Queen of Peace NS, Janesboro, the Midwest School for the Deaf and Our Lady of Lourdes NS
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, said: “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.”
The Minister added: “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.”
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 the majority of 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 council said that it plans to finish the undergoing construction on the Father Russell Road in Raheen and in Plassey Park in Castletroy later in 2024.
The Limerick Cycling Campaign also welcomed the opening. The group said: ‘It was great to see a wide political support for Minister Jack Chambers as he launched the Childers Road active travel scheme this morning. The scheme is a credit to the Limerick Council Active Travel Team and the local councillors that worked hard to deliver the project.”
Main photo: By Don Moloney, provided by Limerick City and County Council.
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