Leaflet issued at Public Information Session March 2000:

Introduction
Limerick County Council, along with Limerick Corporation, Clare County Council and the National Roads Authority, are looking at options for completing the Southern Bypass of Limerick City. This section would link the National Routes from Dublin, Cork and Killarney with the road to Ennis and Galway. It would also relieve traffic congestion in Limerick City. This new road would include a fourth crossing of the Shannon River. The scheme is earmarked in the National Development Plan 2000-2006 as a candidate project for Private Public Partnership (PPP). This would give private investors the opportunity to design, build, operate and finance the project on behalf of the Public Sector.

Current Position
At present, the project is at the Constraints Study Stage. This will identify the main issues affecting the choice of route and is due to be completed in March 2000.

The first public consultation is being carried out at this stage to allow members of the public to see maps of the area being studied and to raise issues of local importance.


What happens next?
The next stage in the scheme is the route selection study. This will identify a number of possible routes and highlight the most suitable one.

A second public consultation will be held to discuss the route options before the Route Selection Report is finalised. The target date for completion of this stage is September 2000.

The route has not yet been chosen

The route selection will be followed by an environmental impact study and preparation of the compulsory purchase order. This should be finalised by April 2001.

The Limerick County Council project team, assisted by consultants MC O'Sullivan & Co Ltd and COWI of Denmark, are developing the project and would welcome your views. Please complete the questionnaire or send your comments to the address below, by 16th March 2000. Mr Donal Brennan, Project Engineer: