well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?

@Tuborg wrote:

There was a great opportunity to build a free-flowing interchange at rossbrien as its a site with plenty of open space with little or no constraints and although this isnt a bad attempt it still falls a bit short of full free-flowing status,according to the environmental impact study all traffic movements will be catered for on the rossbrien interchange with the exception of citybound N20 traffic to the childers road, this seems a curious decision as this means that current access to the city on the N20 will be eliminated, maybe this was the reason for the existing dual carriageway terminating at the temporary roundabout at rossbrien and not at the childers road. It seems a rather ill thought out plan if im honest, its only going to mean extra pressure on the existing ballysimon interchange which is woefully under capacity and also the new dock road interchange which is planned as a dumbell(2 rounabouts with sliproads). It also looks like there will be no access to the childers road from the existing ring road(dublin, waterford,tiperary traffic etc). So therefore the current link road from the childers road to the current junction of the N7 ring road phase 1 and the N20 will be reserved for southbound traffic.

As for why there are no motorways planned for the limerick area, the limerick to nenagh route was planned as a motorway but about a year ago it was downgraded to a high quality dc with little or no fuss, no opposition from local politicians or anything:confused: , also the first phase of the ring road is whats known as a motorway standard dual carriageway with proper grade separated junctions etc, its got all the characteristics of a motorway except the blue signs.One of the nra’s favourite reasons for not awarding motorway status is a lack of an alternative route for non motorway traffic, yet there is no such problems here as the old dublin road remains open to traffic. For me its all about political will, we just dont have a strong enough voice to lobby for what we need and want. It serves us right, we never stand up for ourselves down here, we just sit here and take whatever is thrown at us!, be it from the dublin media or the government:mad:

ah yes the Dublin Meeja!!

This new plan by the council is remarkably crazy even for them. It’s incomprehensible how they can feel this is in any way good for either the city or the county. Surely they should be trying to preserve a greenbelt around the city to impress upon people the difference between city and county, rather than building the county up until it is a separate city surronding the city proper. Coming from either Galway or Dublin we will first encounter these developments, then another string of suburbia before coming upon the city centre, urpan sprawl is obviously an aspiration of Limerick city councillors.

Dave is that link road from the groody rounabout to the new section of the tipperary road open yet?, there was some disagreement over who’s responsibility it was to finish the last section!.Building link roads to open up vast acres of lands for row after row of never ending housing developments isnt sustainable. As if to prove the point about lazy,shortsighted planning, if my maths are right, theres 4 roundabouts on this 2km section of road, obviously to allow ease of access to future residential developments.I just wonder will this be used as an access point for the new shopping and leisure complex given its proximity to the development!.

It was said that the realigned section of the old dublin road would bring major changes to the area and this seems to be happening now as basically across the road from the parkway site theres an application for a mixed use scheme on the site of the old oaklands furniture store that burnt down a couple of years ago, heres the application:

mixed use commercial development comprising of a 72 bedroom hotel, 1960 sq metres office space, 6 no. retail warehouse units (gross floor area of 5332 sq metres), car parking, ancillary site works and reconfiguration of existing road junction
Development Address: Old Dublin Road, Rhebogue, Castletroy,

As for the grounds of the castletroy park hotel heres what fordmount properties have applied for:

construction of 55 no. bedroom nursing home; 90 no. assisted living apartments; 49 no. two bed retirement housing units; mixed use commerical building comprising of shop, 5 no. retail units, bank, pharmacy, bar, restaurant areas & cafe; office building comprising of 12 no. office units; medical centre and creche; the overall development will also consist of ancillary staff facilities, administrative offices, dining rooms, visitors room, recreation rooms, day care room, hairdresser and laundry rooms; demolition of existing single storey habitable house and associated ancillary structures; plant; ESB substations; storage and waste management areas; hard & soft landscaping; boundary treatments; internal roads & pathways; pedestrian access points; surface and basement level car parking; changes in level; site services and all site development & excavation works above and below ground. Vehicular access to site from two access points
Development Address: Castletroy Park Hotel, Plassey Park Road , Castletroy

At least theres some good news on the infastructural front for limerick as the NRA have confirmed that phase 2 of the southern ring and the Limerick to Nenagh scheme will both start this year!

They must’ve been listening about the childers road, maybe i spoke too soon, unfortunately its only a plan at the moment and as the city council only received around €800,000 for roadworks in 2006, its definately not going to happen this year. There is ample space for widening between the parkway and the kilmallock roundabout, however the railway overbridge on the way to roxborough is a problem. When/if this scheme goes ahead the junction for the childers retail park should be removed, it should never have been allowed in the first place as its a serious hazard to traffic, an entrance from the old singland road side would be a much better option as there is already a junction here. The inner orbital routes are also long overdue, we’re never going to get all traffic out of the city centre and a dedicated route around the centre is the best option, hopefully this might accelerate to city centre pedestrianisation programme.

Limerick Post 4th february 2006

City transportation plan gets kick-start

By Marie Hobbins
A WIDENING of Childers Road, the setting up of an inner orbital route and the formulation of a city centre delivery strategy are just some of the measures that will soon be rolled out as part of a new comprehensive transport plan for the city.

At a specially convened seminar, hosted by Limerick City Council’s Transportation Strategic Policy Committee on Tuesday, key issues were identified and the way paved for a programme that will set in motion radical new initiatives to accommodate the increased traffic that will arise from a doubling of the city’s commercial usage.

With major new inner city development due to come on stream next year, there is an urgency in upgrading the city’s traffic management and transport infrastructure.

Tuesday’s meeting identified key issues and will lead on to the establishment of a Transport Forum that will involve the Garda Siochana, Limerick City and County Councils, Bus Eireann and Iarnrod Eireann as well as representation from the Limerick Taxi Drivers Association.

With a pathway and cycle lane currently being established on Childers Road, it was considered opportune to also widen the road in view of the substantially increased traffic volume due to the recent opening of a number of major retail outlets in the area.

“We will formulate a city centre delivery strategy, with no deliveries allowed after 11am and may kick-start this on William Street and Parnell Street and with increased pedestrianisation of the city – William Street, Upper Thomas Street and O’Connell Street will follow, we have to direct traffic elsewhere, which calls for the establishment of an inner orbital route,” Cllr Leddin told the Limerick Post.

It is understood that the first of perhaps two orbital routes will run though Henry Street and on to Arthur’s Quay, to Charlotte Quay up to Gerard Griffin Street, down Parnell Street and on to Mallow Street.

Newly appointed director of services with Limerick City Council, Pat Drummy said he is optimistic that inner orbital routes can be established this year and that with the public consultation process now completed, the green routes are ready to be rolled out.

However the provision of a light rail system, opposition to the tolling of the new tunnel crossing, a dedicated Shannon-Limerick transport service, an increase in the strength of the garda traffic corps, more roundabouts, improved timing of traffic lights and an electronic parking system are other live issues on the immediate agenda.

Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon recommended a northern relief road from Annacotty to Knockalisheen, exiting at the Radisson SAS Hotel.

“The Government plans to build a motorway from Dublin to Annacotty but unless we have another relief road the articulated trucks travelling to Shannon and Clare will use the Dublin Road and Clare Street and proceed through Thomondgate,” he warned.

The councillor also called for the replacement of traffic lights at St Mary’s Church with a roundabout and also at the Childers road junction with Ballinacurra.

“I recommended at the seminar that the National Roads Authority be invited down to hear our concerns and plans when the Forum is set up,” he said.

Satisfied that the Council’s director of services now has a clear idea of how the Transportation Committee would like to progress their plans, Cllr Leddin said: “Mr Drummy will now work on putting a time frame on each of the projects and at our next meeting will put more meat on the bones.”

It is also envisaged to prepare and present a case for a more equitable share for Limerick of Transport Minister, Martin Cullen’s 31 billion euro Transport 21 programme.

Could someone please tell me what are these new green bus routes everyone is on about?

Limerick Post 4th february 2006

“Glittering” city centre development planned

CITY HALL is adopting a cautious approach to its consideration of planning permission to a development that is being heralded as having the biggest impact on Limerick city’s transformation for the next two hundred years.

Though the official date for a decision on the Opera Centre is officially February 17, there is reason to believe it will be at least a year before the city’s planners give the go-ahead to the proposed 41,000 square metre city centre development that will comprise four floors fronting five streets – Patrick Street, Ellen Street, Michael Street, Denmark Street and Bank Place.

At a meeting of Limerick City Council, Cllr John Gilligan called for a scale model and professional presentation on the development, which he said will have the biggest influence on what the city centre will look like for centuries to come.

There has been huge overall enthusiasm for the development from both public representatives and the business sector, who for the past decade have seen new supermarket and mega retail stores opting for locations in the suburbs with subsequent rates going to the coffers of Limerick County Council.

However, because of its strategic city centre location, plans for the development will undergo close scrutiny and delays in progressing the project could also be caused by objections lodged, archaeological digs, consultation and requests for further information.

Stressing the need for close scrutiny of every aspect of the development, Cllr Pat Kennedy said: “I’d like an assurance from the mayor that the councillors be consulted on every aspect of this development even though we do not have an executive role in this. It used to be usual to call in ward councillors for their views and I’d like to see this happening again,” he said.

Mayor Scully said that as the planning application for the Opera Centre development is the most important in a generation, it is vital to get it right.

The development is modelled on an opera house design but is named in honour of the legendary Limerick opera singer, Catherine Hayes who went on to achieve international recognition and whose birthplace at 4 Patrick Street will be restored as a museum.

Planning permission has been applied for by Regeneration Developments and the 3.8 acre site will, when completed be fronted by two glass entrances, one of which will face the river at Bank Place, looking across to George’s Quay and the other will be on the junction of Patrick Street and Ellen Street.

any pictures of what the proposed development will look like ? Very exciting TBH

@Maskhadov wrote:

any pictures of what the proposed development will look like ? Very exciting TBH

http://thelimerick.blogspot.com/2006/01/artists-impression-of-opera-shopping.html