A heckler disrupted the launch of Limericks latest segregated cycle lane with an unexpected request yelled out of his car window more cycle lane!The Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme in Raheen in Limerick was launched yesterday by the Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless.The project, by Limerick City and County Councils Active Travel team, is around 1km in length. The council said it provides significant pedestrian and cycle facility upgrades between Racefield Roundabout and the entrance to Gouldavoher residential area of the city.The routes official opening took place at St Pauls National School, Dooradoyle, which will have many students and staff living locally who will directly benefit from the new facilities.IMAGE: Politicians, officals, campaigners, and children from St Pauls National School at the launch of the route (Photo: Don Moloney).IMAGE: Brian Kennedy, Director of Service for Transportation and Mobility at Limerick City and County Council, Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, James Lawless TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics; and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for Postal Policy, Cllr Fergus Kilcoyne, Sean McGlynn, Limerick City and County Council and Brian Leddin TD pictured with students from St Pauls National School, Dooradoyle Elliot Harrington, Luke Yang, April OKeeffe Howard and Patryk Janowski at the launch of the Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme (Photo: Don Moloney).IMAGE: The school band played at the launch at St Pauls National School (Photo: Don Moloney).IMAGE: Brian Kennedy, Director of Service for Transportation and Mobility at Limerick City and County Council, Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, James Lawless TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics; and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for Postal Policy and Cllr Fergus Kilcoyne pictured with students from St Pauls National School, Dooradoyle Elliot Harrington, Luke Yang, April OKeeffe Howard and Patryk Janowski at the launch of the Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme (Photo: Don Moloney).IMAGE: Part of the new project (Photo: Don Moloney)The council said that the project is a key element of the Active Travel network on the West side of the city.It said that on the Racefield side, the route will connect with the Raheen Roundabout to Quinns Cross Active Travel Scheme, which is currently under construction, and, on the other side, it will connect with the St Pauls to Ballykeefe Active Travel Scheme, which has received planning permission and is expected to start construction in 2025.John Moran, the directly elected Mayor of Limerick, said: The completion of the Limerick Metropolitan Areas Active Travel network is continuing to be carried out at a high standard and a quick pace.Strong pedestrian and cycling infrastructure on the West side of the city that is accessible for all will provide an important element of making the Raheen/Mungret area a true 15 minute neighbourhood. This project will provide a vital connecting piece to link what is a heavily populated residential area to the Raheen Industrial Estate and the city centre in time, he said.The Mayor added: Im looking forward to the continued rollout of Limericks Active Travel network in the months and years ahead, keenly supported by funding from the NTA and the Department of Transport.Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless, said: It is great to see such projects come to fruition, after the significant increase in Active Travel funding that my Department has been in the position to provide in recent years, following the Programme for Government commitment of allocating around 360 million per annum to walking and cycling during the Governments lifetime.He added: The Father Russell Road scheme combines improvements for pedestrians and new segregated cycling infrastructure, with enhanced bus stops and landscaping. Like the many other schemes delivered by Limericks Active Travel team, it can act as a model for further development of the citys cycle network in years to come.The council said that following the completion of the Childers Road Scheme in April 2024, the Father Russell Road project is the latest to be opened in the citys quickly growing Active Travel network. Two more projects, one at Plassey Park in Castletroy and another near Ros Mor on the Old Cork Road are due to be completed before the end of the year.The Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme was allocated 2 million in funding by the NTA in 2024, 1 million in 2023 and 200,000 in 2022.Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority, said: The opening of this scheme in Limerick City is a great example of how we are providing people in local communities with more sustainable travel options. The recently published Walking and Cycling Index found that, every day, those who walk and cycle take nearly 32,000 cars off the road in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area.She added: By further improving our active travel infrastructure in Limerick, we will encourage more people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for their everyday journeys.The council said that while twenty trees along the road were removed to construct the Father Russell Road project, the trees have been recycled as part of a natural play area that has been developed in Le Chile National School, Roxboro Road and a further 50 new trees have been planted along the route. These consist of a mix of native, naturalised and climate-resilient species.It added that native wildflower meadows, spring and summer bulbs and shrubs have also been planted as part of the project. The work was overseen by the Active Travel teams dedicated Parks and Landscape Officer.Dave Tobin, a member of the local Limerick Cycling Campaign and deputy chair of the Irish Cycling Campaign, said: Yesterdays #ActiveTravelLimerick launch of the Fr Russell Rd had a heckler shout at us from his car during the photo op: He was demanding that Limerick Council get more cycle lanes into the city centre sorted asap! A very direct request for Mayor John Morans mayoral programme!