A draft proposal for Limerick's fourth Shannon crossing will be ready next month. The project would be one of the largest infrastructural developments undertaken in the region.
It is now at the route-selection stage, and this will be put before the three local authorities concerned: Limerick County Council, Limerick Corporation and Clare County Council, as well as the public.
Mr Pat O'Neill, project manager at the Regional Roads Design Office in Mungret, told The Irish Times: "We will have a number of locations where the public can come and view. It will be like a road show. We will select the routes after we get public feedback.
"The three local authorities and the NRA will also have to give their views before a final decision can be taken, hopefully around March or April. We then go through the statutory processes such as land acquisition."
The target date for starting construction is 2003 with completion in 2006. The cost of the project is likely to be more than £200 million.
Mr O'Neill said the recommended route and crossing options were supposed to be outlined to the local authorities and put before the public in September.
Consultants M.C. O'Sullivan and COWI are to recommend either a low-level opening bridge, a high-level bridge or a tunnel and to decide on how to connect it to a new dual carriageway between Adare and Rosbrien.
The road will start at Cratloe Castle on the Ennis Road and Westfields and continue at the other side of the Shannon between Corcanree and Cooperhill. It will then be linked to the new Adare-Annacotty Southern Ring Road. The road and crossing will be a public-private partnership and is likely to be a toll road. At present Thomond Bridge, Sarsfield Bridge and the Shannon Bridge cross the Shannon.