R509 road
Encyclopedia
The R509 road, following part of the Childers Road (named after ), is a regional road
in Ireland
, running through the southeastern side of Limerick
City. It forms what is somewhat akin to an inner ring road
(albeit mostly two-lane only).
/Kerry
) to the Greenfields Road, Janesboro and onward to the Roxboro
Road/Fedamore Road (R511). The N20/N21 now commences just prior to the Roxboro
Roundabout.
The next stage of the road continues on to link with the Old Cork Road (R512
). Here it passes under the Limerick–Limerick Junction
railway line
. The road continues round to the Tipperary Road (N24), meeting at the Tipperary
roundabout.
The final stage of the road, the last to be built, connects from the Tipperary roundabout, north to the Dublin Road (N7). The roundabout junction here is located at what is known as the Parkway area. The Parkway roundabout serves the Childers Road, Parkway Shopping Centre, Dublin Road, and old Dublin Road/Rhebogue Road.
The final section of the Childers Road also has a junction (between the Tipperary and Parkway roundabouts) with the Bloodmill Road (or Old Singland Road). A new retail development, Childers Road Retail Park
has been built at this junction, and some of the Childers Road upgraded to 3 or 4 lanes. A new junction serves the retail park.
and Raheen
). The road thus earned the title "Limerick's car park", and would feature each morning and evening on traffic reports. Traffic levels are now more suited to the road, but due to the new retail park, and increased traffic generally, delays along the route are still frequent.
As of 2007, the R509 now only follows part of the Childers Road, between the R445
(at the Parkway Shopping Centre on the Dublin Road) and the N20 (at John Carew Park).
The Bus Éireann
308 bus route (city centre to Castletroy/University of Limerick
) has a stop on the Childers Road near the Bloodmill Road junction. A cycle route runs along part of the Childers Road, and is due to be extended as part of a planned scheme of cycleways for Limerick.
A new relief road was opened in 2006 between Plassey roundabout and New Tipperary Road (R527) which should help to alleviate much of the traffic congestion caused by the opening of the Childers Road Retail Park and Parkway Retail Park only 100 metres up the R509
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
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,...
, running through the southeastern side of 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...
City. It forms what is somewhat akin to an inner ring road
Ring road
A ring road, orbital motorway, beltway, circumferential highway, or loop highway is a road that encircles a town or city...
(albeit mostly two-lane only).
Route
The Childers Road was built in several stages to connect various suburbs on that side of the city (it was not originally envisaged as a ring road route). The first section linked the then N20/N21 Ballinacurra Road (from the city centre to Raheen and onwards to CorkCork (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...
/Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
) to the Greenfields Road, Janesboro and onward to the Roxboro
Roxboro, Limerick
Roxboro is an area in Limerick City just outside the city centre. It mainly comprises the areas of Southill, Janesboro, Rathbane, Kennedy Park and Glasgow Park. Krups once had a factory in Roxboro employing up to 800 people at one stage...
Road/Fedamore Road (R511). The N20/N21 now commences just prior to the Roxboro
Roxboro, Limerick
Roxboro is an area in Limerick City just outside the city centre. It mainly comprises the areas of Southill, Janesboro, Rathbane, Kennedy Park and Glasgow Park. Krups once had a factory in Roxboro employing up to 800 people at one stage...
Roundabout.
The next stage of the road continues on to link with the Old Cork Road (R512
R512 road
The R512 road is a regional road in Ireland which runs from Limerick City to Fermoy, County Cork. At one time it was part of the main route between the cities of Limerick and Cork.-References:* – Department of Transport...
). Here it passes under the Limerick–Limerick Junction
Limerick Junction
Limerick Junction is an important railway station in South Tipperary, Ireland which was originally named "Tipperary Junction". Tipperary town is about two miles away to the south-east. Limerick Junction, with a cluster of pleasantly presented railway cottages and a pub, is a small hamlet...
railway line
Rail transport in Ireland
Rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...
. The road continues round to the Tipperary Road (N24), meeting at the Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
roundabout.
The final stage of the road, the last to be built, connects from the Tipperary roundabout, north to the Dublin Road (N7). The roundabout junction here is located at what is known as the Parkway area. The Parkway roundabout serves the Childers Road, Parkway Shopping Centre, Dublin Road, and old Dublin Road/Rhebogue Road.
The final section of the Childers Road also has a junction (between the Tipperary and Parkway roundabouts) with the Bloodmill Road (or Old Singland Road). A new retail development, Childers Road Retail Park
Childers Road Retail Park
Childers Road Retail Park is a retail park on the Childers Road in Limerick City. Construction started in late 2003. Prior to construction, the site was previously used as a soccer pitch for Granville Rangers....
has been built at this junction, and some of the Childers Road upgraded to 3 or 4 lanes. A new junction serves the retail park.
Discussion
Until the opening of the M7 Southern Ring Road (a dual-carriageway running further from the city linking the M7, N18, M20/N21 and N24 roads), the Childers road carried traffic attempting to skirt past Limerick between these routes, in addition to city traffic to and between the various suburbs along the route (e.g. between CastletroyCastletroy
Castletroy is a rapidly growing and predominantly middle-class suburb of Limerick, Ireland and is the largest suburb in Munster. Its population is estimated at 40,000 as of 2010....
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...
). The road thus earned the title "Limerick's car park", and would feature each morning and evening on traffic reports. Traffic levels are now more suited to the road, but due to the new retail park, and increased traffic generally, delays along the route are still frequent.
As of 2007, the R509 now only follows part of the Childers Road, between the R445
R445 road
The R445 road is a regional road in Ireland. The route is a non-motorway alternative route to the N7/M7 motorway between Dublin and Limerick. Indeed, much of the route comprises roads that were formerly part of the N7 between the cities, prior to motorway and other bypasses...
(at the Parkway Shopping Centre on the Dublin Road) and the N20 (at John Carew Park).
The Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
308 bus route (city centre to Castletroy/University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
) has a stop on the Childers Road near the Bloodmill Road junction. A cycle route runs along part of the Childers Road, and is due to be extended as part of a planned scheme of cycleways for Limerick.
A new relief road was opened in 2006 between Plassey roundabout and New Tipperary Road (R527) which should help to alleviate much of the traffic congestion caused by the opening of the Childers Road Retail Park and Parkway Retail Park only 100 metres up the R509