Shannon tunnel opens to walkers

A chance to be “one of the first people to walk under the Shannon” is being offered to people in Limerick and Clare tomorrow.

From 10am to 7pm, visitors are being invited to walk the new 900-metre Limerick tunnel in advance of its official opening date later this summer.

The pre-cast, twin-tube tunnel was previously on display before it was lowered into position under the river in July 2008.

With a price tag of about €810 million, the public private partnership is a more expensive project than the Dublin Port Tunnel - which Dublin City Council said cost about €751 million, although this has been referred to arbitration.

Officially the Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase 2, the Limerick tunnel scheme includes almost nine kilometres of surface level dual carriageway linking the N7 Dublin Road, the N20 Cork Road in the area of Rossbrien, and the N18 Ennis Road near the Radisson and Two Mile Inn hotels.

Tomorrow’s public open day is the “last chance” for visitors to walk the tunnel, according to the NRA, which said pedestrians will not be accommodated when the tunnel opens to vehicular traffic.

Parking will be available in Michael Gabbett's field adjacent to the scheme with access off the Dock Road Roundabout.

Visitors to the tunnel will be invited to walk across the scenic Bunlicky Lake causeway before entering the northbound tunnel bore. The outward walk is about 1.5 kilometres long and when walkers emerge from the tunnel, having crossed under the longest river in these islands, a cup of tea will be available in the site canteen.

The return trip is also about 1.5 kilometres so visitors are advised to bring walking shoes.

Park and Rides will be available from Limerick Racecourse, City East Plaza at Ballysimon Road and the Kilmurray Lodge Hotel, Castletroy. Parking is not available at Dock Road or on the Tunnel project road.

A commemorative book will be on sale and proceeds will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (Limerick Branch), the Milford Care Centre and the Thomond House Hostels for the Homeless.

When the tunnel opens officially later this summer a toll charge of about €1.80 is to be charged for private cars. The tunnel operator is Direct Route Limerick Ltd, which holds the concession for 35 years.

The National Roads Authority would not reveal the split of the construction cost between it and Direct Route, but said if the State had to fund the construction itself it would have cost €660 million. The authority said a further €150 million was spent on pre-planning and land acquisition, archaeological investigations and other works.

A spokesman for the NRA said comparing the costs of the Limerick and Dublin tunnels was like comparing “chalk and cheese”.

He said the principle reasons the Limerick tunnel was more expensive was the price included annual maintenance and operation over the 35 year life of the contract, as well as refurbishment to a very high condition before the tunnel was to be handed over to the State. In contrast, the cost of operating, maintaining and refurbishing the Dublin Port Tunnel was not included in the cost.

Nor did the Dublin Port Tunnel figure did include land costs, while the land costs associated with almost nine kilometres of dual carriageway in the environs of Limerick were very high, the spokesman added.