N20 road
Encyclopedia
The N20 road is a national primary road
in Ireland
, connecting the cities of Cork
and Limerick
. Buttevant
, Croom, Charleville
, Mallow
and Blarney
are major towns along the route. Part of the route is a motorway, designated as the M20 Motorway.
and Raheen
, through which the old N20 route used to run until the early 2000s. Interchanges and link roads connect to these locations. Two further interchanges are located on the motorway, at either end of Patrickswell
. At the latter, the M/N20 route leaves the main road (which continues as the N21 to Tralee), i.e. one must turn off the dual carriageway to stay on the M/N20.
is of similar design. At Mallow
a relatively high specification road is encountered , with an older bypass of the town (early 1990s) passing up the hill from it as dual carriageway
. A viaduct brings the road across the Blackwater River
and Valley. The rest of the route to Cork is of high quality wide two lane, with a section of 2+1 road
(a pilot installation) south of Mallow. The route becomes dual carriageway on the approach to Cork. New relief roads in Cork bring the route into the city centre while avoiding the winding streets through which the route ran until around 2000.
initiative, the Atlantic Corridor
road project aimed to link Letterkenny
to Waterford
via Limerick
and Cork
with high quality roadway. A major part of this project involved the upgrading of the N20 route between Cork and Limerick.
It was proposed to upgrade or replace the entire N20 with a new M20 motorway, approximately 90 km (56 mi) in length, with up to eight newly constructed junctions or re-configured junctions. It was to be constructed in two stages: a southern section and a northern section. It is hoped that this project will be progressed as a PPP
scheme. Details of progress on the scheme can be found on the Cork National Roads Office website.
The first segment of M20 motorway came into existence on 28 August 2009 following the approval by the Minister for Transport to redesignate a 10 km (6 mi) of existing N20 dual-carriageway between Rossbrien and Attyflin as motorway.
On 10 November 2011, owing to funding issues caused by the current financial crisis
in Ireland, the government announced that the planned completion of the M20 motorway is to be shelved for the foreseeable future, along with a number of other insfrastructural projects.
National primary road
A national primary road is a road classification in the Republic of Ireland. National primary roads form the major routes between the major urban centres. There are over 2,700km of national primary roads. This category of road has the prefix "N" followed by one or two digits...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, connecting the cities of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
and Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. Buttevant
Buttevant
Buttevant is a medieval market town, incorporated by charter of Edward III, situated in North County Cork, Ireland.While there may be reason to suggest that the town may occupy the site of an earlier settlement of the Donegans, Carrig Donegan, the origins of the present town are clearly and...
, Croom, Charleville
Charleville, County Cork
Charleville or Ráth Luirc is a town in north County Cork, Ireland, situated in Ireland's Golden Vale, near the border with County Limerick. It is located on the "Glen" tributary river, which flows into the Maigue River in Co. Limerick...
, Mallow
Mallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
and Blarney
Blarney
Blarney is a town and townland in County Cork, Ireland. It lies north-west of Cork and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.-Tourism:Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork...
are major towns along the route. Part of the route is a motorway, designated as the M20 Motorway.
Route
M20 Rosbrien Interchange (Limerick) to Patrickswell
The route starts at junction 1 at the Rosbrien interchange (south of Limerick City) where it connects to the M7 and the N18 which form the Limerick Southern Ring Road. The route continues from this interchange as motorway (see thumbnail). This route was redesignated as motorway in August 2009. The route bypasses DooradoyleDooradoyle
Dooradoyle is a suburb of Limerick city which is in County Limerick, Ireland built after the 1960s which remain in the Limerick County Council administrative area. Dooradoyle is in the Parish of St Paul, in the Diocese of Limerick...
and Raheen
Raheen
Raheen is a suburban district of southwestern Limerick City, Ireland. It houses the headquarters of the Mid-Western Region of the Health Service Executive so that a multitude of essential health services catering for the population of the region are dispensed from this suburban...
, through which the old N20 route used to run until the early 2000s. Interchanges and link roads connect to these locations. Two further interchanges are located on the motorway, at either end of Patrickswell
Patrickswell
Patrickswell, historically known as Toberpatrick , is a small town in County Limerick, Ireland.-Etymology:The name refers to St. Patrick and there is a small hand pump/well in the main street; Microsoft mappoint and some other programs call the village St. Patrick's Well or St....
. At the latter, the M/N20 route leaves the main road (which continues as the N21 to Tralee), i.e. one must turn off the dual carriageway to stay on the M/N20.
N20 Patrickswell to Cork City
A wide two lane road brings traffic along the Croom bypass (prior to the opening of this bypass at a cost of €20 million on 12 July 2001, the route went through the town). Past this new section of road, narrow two-lane road commences, ending at Charleville. The route passes through the town, running along Main Street. The road between Charleville and the next town, ButtevantButtevant
Buttevant is a medieval market town, incorporated by charter of Edward III, situated in North County Cork, Ireland.While there may be reason to suggest that the town may occupy the site of an earlier settlement of the Donegans, Carrig Donegan, the origins of the present town are clearly and...
is of similar design. At Mallow
Mallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
a relatively high specification road is encountered , with an older bypass of the town (early 1990s) passing up the hill from it as dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
. A viaduct brings the road across the Blackwater River
Munster Blackwater
The Blackwater or Munster Blackwater is a river which flows through counties Kerry, Cork, and Waterford in Ireland. It rises in the Mullaghareirk Mountains in County Kerry and then flows in an easterly direction through County Cork, through Mallow and Fermoy...
and Valley. The rest of the route to Cork is of high quality wide two lane, with a section of 2+1 road
2+1 road
2+1 road is a specific category of three-lane road, consisting of two lanes in one direction and one lane in the other, alternating every few kilometres, and separated usually with a steel cable barrier. Traditional roads of at least width can be converted to 2+1 roads and reach near-motorway...
(a pilot installation) south of Mallow. The route becomes dual carriageway on the approach to Cork. New relief roads in Cork bring the route into the city centre while avoiding the winding streets through which the route ran until around 2000.
M20 motorway
Under the government's collapsed Transport 21Transport 21
Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
initiative, the Atlantic Corridor
Atlantic Corridor
The Atlantic Corridor is a road project in Ireland that eventually will link Waterford in the South-East to Letterkenny in the North-West by high-quality dual carriageway or motorway. A major infrastructure project, the scheme was announced as part of the Transport 21 project launch in 2005, and is...
road project aimed to link Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
to Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
via Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
and Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
with high quality roadway. A major part of this project involved the upgrading of the N20 route between Cork and Limerick.
It was proposed to upgrade or replace the entire N20 with a new M20 motorway, approximately 90 km (56 mi) in length, with up to eight newly constructed junctions or re-configured junctions. It was to be constructed in two stages: a southern section and a northern section. It is hoped that this project will be progressed as a PPP
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
scheme. Details of progress on the scheme can be found on the Cork National Roads Office website.
The first segment of M20 motorway came into existence on 28 August 2009 following the approval by the Minister for Transport to redesignate a 10 km (6 mi) of existing N20 dual-carriageway between Rossbrien and Attyflin as motorway.
On 10 November 2011, owing to funding issues caused by the current financial crisis
2008–2011 Irish financial crisis
The 2008–2011 Irish financial crisis, which had stemmed from the financial crisis of 2008, is a major political and economic crisis in Ireland that is partly responsible for the country falling into recession for the first time since the 1980s...
in Ireland, the government announced that the planned completion of the M20 motorway is to be shelved for the foreseeable future, along with a number of other insfrastructural projects.
Junctions
| M20 motorway | ||
| Northbound exit | Junction | Southbound exit |
Dublin (M7  ), LimerickLimerick Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the... , Galway Galway Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the... (N18) |
 |
Start of motorway |
| Dooradoyle Dooradoyle Dooradoyle is a suburb of Limerick city which is in County Limerick, Ireland built after the 1960s which remain in the Limerick County Council administrative area. Dooradoyle is in the Parish of St Paul, in the Diocese of Limerick... (R926) |
 |
Dooradoyle Dooradoyle Dooradoyle is a suburb of Limerick city which is in County Limerick, Ireland built after the 1960s which remain in the Limerick County Council administrative area. Dooradoyle is in the Parish of St Paul, in the Diocese of Limerick... (R926) |
| Raheen Raheen Raheen is a suburban district of southwestern Limerick City, Ireland. It houses the headquarters of the Mid-Western Region of the Health Service Executive so that a multitude of essential health services catering for the population of the region are dispensed from this suburban... (R510) |
Raheen Raheen Raheen is a suburban district of southwestern Limerick City, Ireland. It houses the headquarters of the Mid-Western Region of the Health Service Executive so that a multitude of essential health services catering for the population of the region are dispensed from this suburban... (R510) |
|
| Patrickswell Patrickswell Patrickswell, historically known as Toberpatrick , is a small town in County Limerick, Ireland.-Etymology:The name refers to St. Patrick and there is a small hand pump/well in the main street; Microsoft mappoint and some other programs call the village St. Patrick's Well or St.... (R526) |
Patrickswell Patrickswell Patrickswell, historically known as Toberpatrick , is a small town in County Limerick, Ireland.-Etymology:The name refers to St. Patrick and there is a small hand pump/well in the main street; Microsoft mappoint and some other programs call the village St. Patrick's Well or St.... (R526) |
|
| Start of motorway | — | Cork, Mallow Mallow, County Cork Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town.... (N20) Tralee, Castleisland Castleisland Castleisland is a town and commercial centre in County Kerry in south west Ireland. The town is renowned for the width of its main street. Castleisland has a population of 2,170.... , Adare Adare -General information:Adare's origin is as a settlement by a crossing point on the river Maigue. It is situated 16 km from Limerick City. Renowned as one of Ireland's prettiest villages, Adare is designated as a Heritage Town by the Irish government... (N21) |
| M20 motorway (in planning) | ||
| Northbound exit | Junction | Southbound exit |
| Adare Adare -General information:Adare's origin is as a settlement by a crossing point on the river Maigue. It is situated 16 km from Limerick City. Renowned as one of Ireland's prettiest villages, Adare is designated as a Heritage Town by the Irish government... (N21), Croom |
— | Adare Adare -General information:Adare's origin is as a settlement by a crossing point on the river Maigue. It is situated 16 km from Limerick City. Renowned as one of Ireland's prettiest villages, Adare is designated as a Heritage Town by the Irish government... (N21), Croom |
| Bruree, Kilmallock Kilmallock Kilmallock or Kilmalloc is a town in south County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Cork. There is a Dominican Priory in the town and King's Castle . The remains of medieval walls which encircled the settlement are still visible. The Dublin–Cork railway line passes by the town,... (R518 R518 road The R518 road is a regional road in Ireland which runs from Kilmallock via Rathkeale, to Askeaton, all in County Limerick.-References:* – Department of Transport... ) |
— | Bruree, Kilmallock Kilmallock Kilmallock or Kilmalloc is a town in south County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Cork. There is a Dominican Priory in the town and King's Castle . The remains of medieval walls which encircled the settlement are still visible. The Dublin–Cork railway line passes by the town,... (R518 R518 road The R518 road is a regional road in Ireland which runs from Kilmallock via Rathkeale, to Askeaton, all in County Limerick.-References:* – Department of Transport... ) |
| Services | ||
| Charleville Charleville, County Cork Charleville or Ráth Luirc is a town in north County Cork, Ireland, situated in Ireland's Golden Vale, near the border with County Limerick. It is located on the "Glen" tributary river, which flows into the Maigue River in Co. Limerick... , |
— | Charleville Charleville, County Cork Charleville or Ráth Luirc is a town in north County Cork, Ireland, situated in Ireland's Golden Vale, near the border with County Limerick. It is located on the "Glen" tributary river, which flows into the Maigue River in Co. Limerick... , |
| Buttevant Buttevant Buttevant is a medieval market town, incorporated by charter of Edward III, situated in North County Cork, Ireland.While there may be reason to suggest that the town may occupy the site of an earlier settlement of the Donegans, Carrig Donegan, the origins of the present town are clearly and... |
— | Buttevant Buttevant Buttevant is a medieval market town, incorporated by charter of Edward III, situated in North County Cork, Ireland.While there may be reason to suggest that the town may occupy the site of an earlier settlement of the Donegans, Carrig Donegan, the origins of the present town are clearly and... |
| Doneraile Doneraile Doneraile is a town in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is located on the R581 regional road 8 km east of the N20 road which runs from Limerick to Cork. It is about 12 km north of Mallow town... , Mallow East Mallow, County Cork Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town.... (N72) |
— | Doneraile Doneraile Doneraile is a town in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is located on the R581 regional road 8 km east of the N20 road which runs from Limerick to Cork. It is about 12 km north of Mallow town... , Mallow East Mallow, County Cork Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town.... (N72) |
| Mallow South Mallow, County Cork Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town.... |
— | Mallow South Mallow, County Cork Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town.... |
| Rathduff, Grenagh Grenagh Grenagh is a village situated 1 km from the main Cork-Limerick road in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. The village is served by St. Lachteen's Catholic Church.... |
— | Rathduff, Grenagh Grenagh Grenagh is a village situated 1 km from the main Cork-Limerick road in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. The village is served by St. Lachteen's Catholic Church.... |
| Blarney Blarney Blarney is a town and townland in County Cork, Ireland. It lies north-west of Cork and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.-Tourism:Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork... |
— | Blarney Blarney Blarney is a town and townland in County Cork, Ireland. It lies north-west of Cork and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.-Tourism:Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork... |
| Cork Northern Ring Road (N22) | — | Cork Northern Ring Road (N22) |
| Cork | — | Cork |
External links
- Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 – Department of TransportDepartment of Transport (Ireland)The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for transport policy and overseeing transport services and infrastructure. The Department is led by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport who is assisted by two Ministers of State...
- Mallow to Croom scheme
- M20 Cork to Limerick Motorway Scheme Public Consultation Brochure