N24 road

N24 road
Country	IE
Route	24
Length km	124
Terminus A	Limerick
Terminus B	Waterford
Cities	Nenagh; Clonmel; Carrick-on-Suir
Previous route	23
Next route	25

N24 road The N24 road is a national primary road in the Republic of Ireland connecting Limerick and Waterford. It links the Mid-West with the South-East, passing through key towns such as Tipperary, Clonmel, and Carrick-on-Suir. The route forms part of strategic corridors between Limerick University Hospital and the Waterford University Hospital, while intersecting regional routes to Cork and Dublin corridors.

Route description

The route begins at the junction with the M7 near Limerick and proceeds southeast through suburban Raheen into the rural hinterland toward Newcastle West. It continues past Tipperary and through Clonmel, crossing the River Suir at Clonmel Bridge before progressing east to Carrick-on-Suir and onward via Dunmore East approaches into Waterford. Along its trajectory the road intersects the N7, N20, and N25 corridors, and provides connections to Shannon Airport via regional roads. The corridor traverses varying terrain including limestone plains, the foothills of the Galtee Mountains, and the Suir valley.

History

The alignment follows ancient routes linking the medieval markets of Limerick and Waterford that developed after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. Upgrades in the 20th century coincided with the formation of the Irish Free State and later the Republic of Ireland, when national road classifications like the national primary network were introduced. Post-1990s economic growth under the Celtic Tiger prompted capacity and resurfacing works, while EU cohesion funding associated with European Regional Development Fund and transport policy supported targeted improvements. Major junctions were rationalised during transport plans associated with the National Development Plan and subsequent strategic infrastructure documents.

Major junctions and towns

Key urban centres on the route include Limerick, Tipperary, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, and Waterford. Notable intersections occur with the M7 near Limerick, the N20 feeder toward Cork, the N25 at Waterford, and regional links to Shannon Airport and Rosslare Europort. Junction improvements have been undertaken at crossings with roads to Cahir, Cashel, and Newport to improve connectivity to local markets and services such as University Hospital Limerick and South Tipperary General Hospital.

Road improvements and upgrades

Phased upgrades have included realignment, resurfacing, and bypass schemes funded through national and EU programmes such as the National Development Plan and various road investment programmes administered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Notable projects include bypasses around smaller towns to reduce congestion and safety works near the Galtee Mountains foothills. Schemes often involve environmental assessments under the EPA standards and planning consents by local authorities such as Tipperary County Council and Waterford City and County Council. Proposals have referenced principles from the Road Safety Authority and integrated transport strategies aligned with EU directives.

Traffic volume and safety

Traffic volumes vary from high commuter flows near Limerick and Waterford to lower rural volumes between Tipperary and Clonmel. Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) measurements inform maintenance prioritisation alongside collision statistics compiled by the Road Safety Authority and local Garda traffic units such as Garda Síochána. Safety interventions have included median treatments, junction realignments, and enhanced signage to reduce incidents on sections previously identified in national collision analyses. Heavy goods vehicle movements connect to freight nodes like Belview Port and regional distribution centres serving companies such as Irish Rail freight users and local manufacturing firms.

Economic and regional importance

The road is integral to regional supply chains linking the agricultural hinterland of County Tipperary and the food processing sector around Clonmel with export ports at Cork and Waterford. It supports commuter flows to employment hubs including University of Limerick and industrial estates in Waterford City while facilitating tourism access to attractions like the Rock of Cashel, the Goldmine Erlebnispark-style visitor sites, and coastal amenities in Dunmore East. Investment in the corridor is reflected in regional development strategies by agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and Department of Transport, aiming to bolster competitiveness, modal integration with Irish Rail services, and resilience for cross-regional freight linking to European networks.

Category:Roads in the Republic of Ireland