Layout of bypass 'catastrophic' for Limerick village

A REPORT is being drawn up which could pave the way for an extension of the Adare bypass to prevent “havoc” on the village’s approaches.

Government has confirmed it has commissioned Limerick Council to carry out a study to extend the entry point to the bypass on the Limerick side, from opposite Adare Manor Golf Club, to instead meet the M20, three kilometres in the direction of the city.

It’s hoped the road will be ready in time for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

Local councillor Bridie Collins, pictured below, has warned that rather than reducing traffic around the village, the way the bypass is designed currently will actually exacerbate tailbacks to Adare from drivers coming from the city side.

As things stand, the bypass will begin opposite Adare Manor Golf Club - where construction is under way - and end at Smithfield near Croagh.

It means traffic will still gather on the N21, which has just a single lane each way.

This road is renowned for traffic jams in the morning and evening and Cllr Collins believes by not extending the bypass, tailbacks could stretch for miles.

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Extending the bypass to link with the M20 at Attyflin, she believes, will remedy this.

Without this intervention, the bypass will become “pretty defunct and pretty useless”, warned Cllr Collins, also a businesswoman in Adare.

“It is going to create havoc. A complete mess in terms of traffic management. The potential for the backlog to be even further is very high. You can’t get away from that fact,” she added. “It’s not going to decrease traffic. It’s going to increase it in my mind.”

She has raised the matter in face-to-face meetings with her Fianna Fail party colleagues, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien.

She also pointed out that drivers who want to enter Adare village from the bypass will have priority over motorists on the existing road.

“This will add another layer of backlog to the traffic. It will be catastrophic in terms of accessing the village of Adare.”

A department spokesperson confirmed council is tasked with assessing the possibility of extending the bypass.

They are in talks with the contractor, and expect to submit a report in three to four weeks.

This will then be considered by the Department of Transport.