The Taoiseach has today officially opened the Limerick tunnel under the River Shannon.
The new route links Coonagh on the northern bank with Bunlicky on the southern bank.
There are four separate junctions: one at Rossbrien joins the Limerick southern ring road and the tunnel, another at the N20 Cork/Tralee road at the Dock Road (N69); the third at Coonagh West and the fourth is at the N18 Ennis Road.
There are two toll plazas located on the north side of the river. It will cost €1.80 for a car to use the tunnel, rising to €5.70 for a large HGV. The tunnel officially opened to traffic at 3.30pm.
Motorists looking to bypass Limerick City could shave around 20 minutes off their journey at peak times. The €605 million project is the length of five football pitches.
It is estimated that up to 20,000 cars a day will be taken off Limerick’s streets, although the tunnel has the capacity for 40,000.
In his speech opening the tunnel at 1pm, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said it was historic crossing and described it as a key element in the State’s national road infrastructure.
“More than €1.4 billion will be spent this year on our national, regional and local road infrastructure,” he said. “This level of investment provides a much-needed fiscal stimulus around the country and also helps maintain thousands of jobs.”
The 675-metre tunnel took four years to complete and finished ahead of schedule. It forms the second phase of the Limerick southern ring road and connects Phase 1 at Rossbrien on the south side of the city to the N18 Ennis Road on the west.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said the tunnel was the outcome of many years of vision and effort. “It is one of the largest infrastructural projects ever undertaken in the mid-west region,” he said.
“It will provide a fourth crossing of the River Shannon in Limerick and improve access times for commuters to the city, as well as access to Shannon Airport, Galway, Cork, Kerry and Dublin.” The road network includes 10km of dual carriageway and 2.3km of single lane carriageway.
Peter Malone, National Roads Authority chairman, said drivers would be able to drive under the Shannon to and from the airport, Ennis, and on to Co Galway.
“Additionally, this project improves driver safety, enhances the quality of life for the residents of Limerick city while improving regional competitiveness,” he said. “It will contribute positively to growth in tourism, high-end manufacturing and growing business services sector throughout the entire mid-west.”
Time savings of up to 20 minutes a peak times for traffic travelling between the N7 east of Limerick and the N18 north of the city are expected. From Tuesday approximately 27,000 vehicles per day are expected to use the tunnel reducing traffic volumes currently using the three existing bridges in Limerick City by about one third. Some 28,000 vehicles per day are expected to be removed from the city quays.
When the remaining section of the M7 at Nenagh opens later this year motorway access will be available from Dublin’s M50 to near Ennis, Co Clare.
Today's opening is two months ahead of schedule, an NRA spokesman said. The State already has the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork which goes under the Lee, and the Dublin Port Tunnel under the river Tolka and part of Dublin Bay.