The long awaited and much needed M20 has moved ever closer with the commencement of the tender process for the 80km Limerick to Cork motorway.
The publication this week of a contract notice on etenders and the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) for the procurement of Technical Consultancy Services for the N/M20 Cork to Limerick Road Improvement Scheme significantly advances what will be one of the largest road infrastructure projects in Ireland.
The Technical Consultants will be procured by Limerick City and County Council using a two stage procedure with the Pre-Qualification documents now uploaded to etenders.
Applicants seeking to be pre-qualified for the tender stage are to make submissions to Limerick City and County Council by Thursday, 24th May 2018. The procurement process followed on from a successful market consultation process which engaged with engineering consultants earlier this year.
The successful consultants will be appointed by September of this year and will assist Limerick City and County Council, through the Mid West National Road Design Office, to carry out the planning and design for the N/M20 Cork to Limerick Road Improvement Scheme up to and including the statutory procedures.
The development was welcomed by the Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Stephen Keary who said that the motorway will be another major stimulus for economic growth in the wider Limerick region.
“We have already seen the motor way included in the Government’s capital programme and National Planning Framework but to see the tendering process commence so quickly is very reassuring.
“This is one of the biggest infrastructure projects that will be developed under the current capital plan. Limerick City and County Council is delighted to take the lead on this and looks forward to working closely with Cork County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to make sure this key project, which will do much for creating balanced economic development in this country, proceeds at pace while taking on board the concerns of those who will be impacted by it.”
Said Limerick City and County Council Chief Executive Conn Murray: “This will create a powerful economic corridor not just between Limerick and Cork but all the way to Galway thanks to the completion of the M18 to Galway already. This is exactly the type of seamless motorway network we need to enable the full potential of this wider region to be achieved.
“This will cut travel times between Limerick and Cork to less than an hour. When you think back to the delays experienced at the likes of Charleville and Buttevant, this is going to make a huge difference to transit times for business and tourism, allowing both cities and on up to Galway and beyond to prosper.
“We have already seen a joint socio-economic report commissioned by Limerick and Cork Chambers show that the M20 has the potential to support up to 5,400 new direct jobs in the region, delivering a €128m per annum boost to the region. That’s the type of benefit we are looking at, a benefit that will continue for generations ahead.”