Work on the design and construction of the Adare bypass is scheduled to kick off in the new year, Limerick City and County Council has announced.

It comes after the local authority confirmed that a joint venture of John Sisk and Son and Sorensen Civil Engineering had been awarded the contract to do this work.

The joint venture is known as Sisk Sorenson, and the award comes after, in November 2023, Government announced approval to advance the construction of the road, which will link to Foynes. This is being done in the hope it might be ready for the Ryder Cup 2027, which takes place in Adare Manor.

The project is being seen as important to the success of the tournament, as it’s hoped it will remove vehicles from Adare village, which sees almost daily tailbacks during rush hour.

In a statement, the council acknowledged delivering the bypass ahead of the Ryder Cup remains “an ambitious target”, but the announcement does mark “an important milestone” in its development.

Government is investing €155m to deliver the 7km bypass.

Mayor John Moran said: “This contract award announcement marks a significant step towards achieving the target of having the Adare bypass in place by the autumn of 2027.”

He did, however, warn that “expectations should be tempered considering the scale of the project and the time remaining.”

“Despite the work done to date the project still poses significant challenges and risks that are outside the control of the council. Limerick City and County Council’s commitment to achieve this ambitious target remains steadfast,” Mayor Moran insisted.

Minister of State and Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan added: “It gives me great pride to be part of the Government that has worked so hard to get this project up and running. This next phase is a welcome step along the journey to delivering for the infrastructure needs of Adare, Limerick and the surrounding Mid-West region. We are committed to building and improving our roads network and will continue to invest in delivering important transport projects like this, across the country.”

Chief executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland Peter Walsh said: “The 7km Adare bypass will improve safety for all road users, remove unnecessary through traffic from Adare and eliminate a major regional point of congestion on the national road network.”

Cllr Adam Teskey, who leads the Adare-Rathkeale district, said: “The bypass will alleviate the traffic congestion experienced daily by commuters and will also enhance the safety and quality of life for residents and visitors alike. We are grateful for the continued support and cooperation from all stakeholders and look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on the beautiful heritage village of Adare.”

From the Limerick Leader