The Need for the Project:
Gá leis an dtionscnamh:

Ireland's future development needs are reflected in the Government's National Development Plan 2000-2006. It identifies sustainable economic growth as the key element in Ireland's overall development strategy. This is to be achieved in part through a major investment programme in the national road network.

• The Southern Ring Road Phase II is included in the National Road Needs Study and the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
• Traffic studies carried out in recent years indicate that significant volumes of traffic using the N18 Ennis Road are either coming from or going to areas east and south of Limerick City. This traffic primarily uses Shannon and Sarsfield Bridges in Limerick City to cross the Shannon leading to significant congestion in the centre of Limerick.
• Phase II of the Southern Ring Road would bypass the city from east to west keeping unnecessary traffic out of the city and improving journey times for those travelling to Ennis and Shannon Airport.

The planning process for the Limerick Southern Ring Road commenced in the mid 1980s. Phase I of the Limerick Southern Ring Road has been open to traffic since May 2004. The Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase II is earmarked as a Pilot Public Private Partnership Scheme (PPP)

Need
Benefits
Issues

Tá riachtanais forbartha na hÉireann amach anseo léirithe i bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta an Rialtais 2000 - 2006. Aithnítear fás inbhuanaithe eacnamaíoch mar phríomheilimint na straitéise inbhuanaithe forbartha náisiúnta. Bainfear cuid do seo amach le clár mór infheistíochta sa ghréasán bóthar náisiúnta.

• Tá Cuarbhóthar Dheisceart Luimnigh san áireamh sa Staidéar Náisiúnta um Ghátair Bóithre agus sa Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta 2000 - 2006. ·
• Le roinnt blianta anuas tá tuarascáileanna éagsúla á rá go bhfuil líon mór tráchta ag usáid an N18 Bóthar na hInse ag teacht ó, nó ag imeacht go, áiteanna soir agus áiteanna ó dheas ó Chathair Luimnigh. Úsáideann an trácht seo Droichead na Sionainne agus Droichead an tSáirséalaigh i gCathair Luimnigh chun an tSionainn a thrasnú. An toradh ar seo ná plódú tráchta i lár na cathrach.
• Sheachnódh Céim II do Cuarbhóthar Dheisceart Luimnigh an cathair ag dul timpeall uirthi ón oirthear anoir, rud a choimeádfaidh trácht gan ghnó amach ón gcathair, tiocfaidh feabhas ar amanta turasanna dóibh siúd ag taisteal go hInis agus áerphort na Sionainne.

Cuireadh tús le próiséas pleanála Chuarbhóthar Dheisceart Luimnigh i lár na 1980'aí. Tá Céim 1 de Chuarbhóthar Dheisceart Luimnigh oscailte do thrácht ó Bhealtaine 2004. Tá Cuarbhóthar Dheisceart Luimnigh Céim II ainmnithe mar Scéim Chomhpháirtíochta Poiblí Príobháideach Phíolóiteach (PPP).