Sisk Sorensen Joint Venture and Limerick City and County Council is pleased to announce the signing of the Adare Bypass Design and Construction Contract. The contract was awarded to the Sisk Sorensen Joint Venture, comprising John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd and Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd, and is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Transport.

The Irish Government is investing approximately €150 million to deliver the bypass. The contract was signed at a reception held at the Council’s Corporate Headquarters, Merchants Quay, hosted by Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, in the presence of Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD.

Project Overview:

The Adare Bypass Phase 1A of the overall Foynes to Limerick Road (including Adare Bypass) Project, will extend between the new interchange junctions at Adare and Croagh.

It includes:

1. Approximately 7 km of new motorway from Croagh to Adare;
2. Two grade-separated junctions at Adare and Croagh;
3. Associated connections to and realignment of existing National, and Local roads;
4. Over 200m long 3-span bridge with a central clear-span of approximately 95m over the River Maigue at Adare;
5. Four river bridges; three signage gantries; seven overbridges/underbridges; and various accommodation underpasses, retaining walls and culverts;
6. Extensive earthworks; various drainage works including provision of attenuation ponds and wetlands various accommodation works, side roads and accesses; and various ancillary works;
7. Various authority and utility diversions include the diversion of electricity, phone, broadband, and water apparatus.

The Adare Bypass also includes two new railway bridges, over the Foynes to Limerick railway line currently being recommissioned. Iarnród Éireann is delivering these bridge works in conjunction with John Cradock Ltd on behalf of Limerick City and County Council.

Timeline and Impact:

The project is scheduled for completion by June 2027, ahead of the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor. The Government approved the advancement of the bypass construction in November 2023 to facilitate early delivery. Enabling works, including hedge clearance, fencing, archaeological resolution, railway bridge construction, haul road construction, and utility diversions, are currently underway.

Adare experiences significant traffic delays daily. The bypass will remove congestion on the N21 and divert any unnecessary traffic, including HGV’s away from the village improving the safety of all road users and the quality of life of people living, working and visiting this popular heritage village.

Noel Curtis, Project Director at Sisk and John Wallace, Managing Director of Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd, issued a joint statement on behalf of Sisk Sorensen, the Joint Venture partnership: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure and we are working hard on the delivery, conscious of the Ryder Cup in Adare Manor in 2027. We are off to a good start and value the collaboration and partnership approach from all the stakeholders involved locally and nationally.”

Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien visited the site of the Adare Bypass to review the ongoing works ahead of the contract signing. He stated his continued support for the project, saying: “I am delighted to be signing the construction contract for the Adare Bypass, which is of strategic importance to Limerick and to the wider region. Once complete, it will greatly reduce congestion, air pollution and noise in the heritage town of Adare. Residents and visitors will be able to access the town more easily with increased safety. It will also have a significant impact in reducing journey times for traffic using the N21.

“With the Ryder Cup taking place in September 2027, my Department and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) will be working closely with Limerick City and County Council and all other stakeholders, with the objective of delivering the bypass in advance of the event, which will have a significant and positive impact on the local area in terms of economy and tourism. I appreciate all the work that has taken place to bring the project to this point, and I look forward to seeing the completion of this important project.”

Peter Walsh, CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland stated: “TII welcomes the contract signing of the N21 Adare Bypass between Limerick City and County Council and the contractor Sisk Sorensen JV, the 7km Adare bypass will improve safety for all road users, remove unnecessary through traffic from Adare town and eliminate a major regional point of congestion on the national road network.”

The Adare Bypass is being delivered as an advance contract, in tandem with all the other advance and enabling works contracts. This advance/enabling works contracts phase is being delivered as part of the overall Foynes to Limerick Road (Including Adare Bypass) Project, which is in line with the plans and particulars of the approved development.

The overall project is seen as an economic enabler for Limerick and the Mid-West Region in general, central to this is the project’s role in the strategic development and expansion of Shannon Foynes Port. The Council is continuing to progress the remaining elements of the overall project.

Full details and documentation on the project are available on the website:  www.foyneslimerick.ie

Follow Irish building magazine on LinkedIn for the latest news and updates.