Transport « Thurles Information

Vehicle Driver Testing Returns On Gradual Basis

The driver testing service resumed their testing of learner drivers on July 20th 2020, beginning on a gradual basis. This followed suspension of this service, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the time of the Covid-19 suspension on March 13th last, the average waiting time in Co. Tipperary for a driving test was less than six weeks.
Thurles: Waiting Time: 4.6 weeks.
Nenagh: Waiting Time: 5.5 weeks.
Tipperary Town: Waiting Time: 4.3 weeks.
Clonmel: Waiting Time: 4.8 weeks.

As stated, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are currently delivering a reduced capacity at each test centre, in an effort to prioritise those customers who were on their waiting list, before the suspension of services.

For that reason, reliable data that could be published and would help customers understand when their future appointment might arise, is not yet available. The RSA however plan to publish waiting time information, for each centre, again in the next few weeks.

Interesting to note that the average number of deaths caused by motor vehicles in 2019 were 12 deaths per month.
Sundays were the most dangerous day in 2019 with 32 deaths happening, followed closely by Fridays with 26 deaths.

In 2019, Tipperary had the third highest number of road fatalities per county in the Republic, with 13 deaths.

Reports Of Serious Accident On M8 Motorway Near Thurles

Details are coming in on what is believed to be a serious traffic incident having taken place on the M8 Motorway, close to Thurles, in the last number of hours.

The incident has forced the closure of both the north and south bound lanes between J6 Thurles and J5 Thurles.

Emergency services including a helicopter are understood to be currently at the accident scene.

Traffic is noted as being heavy on approach. Traffic is also slow as it exits the motorway at J5, Two-Mile-Borris, attempting to avoid delays further south. Traffic on the N62 is also moving slowing, as it comes up to the M8 at Junction 6.

BRIEF UPDATE: The M8 has now fully reopened both northbound and southbound, following the earlier collision.

Resident Parking Suggested For New Thurles Carpark

Photo (A) Exit west unto Slievenamon Road, (B) View South Side looking from West to East, (C) View North Side with Entrance from Liberty Square, looking from West to East, (D) Exit South unto Thomond Road

It is expected that the new Thurles carpark, facilitated by the demolition of Jack Griffin’s newsagents shop in Liberty Square, should be open by August 31st. next.

With this new car park coming on stream here in Thurles, the local authority have been requested to examine off-street parking within the town centre.

In the past, local authority planners have failed miserably to take into account planning applications for new businesses. One strong example within Thurles is the area of Kickham Street / Ikerrin Road, where three businesses were granted planning in recent years, e.g. A Supermarket, Tiling Shop and Veterinary Clinic.

All three businesses, while attracting excellent custom; same automatically has resulted in there being no car parking spaces for elderly local residents, who’s homes directly front on Kickham street and who were in occupation in their homes, long before these new businesses ever came into existance.

Traffic within this area is now so dense; same generated by staff working in these businesses; customers and larger vehicles making local deliveries, that elderly residents are now being forced to park over a quarter of a mile away. Some are now obliged to park vehicles in neighbours gardens on Ikerrin Road. Promises to remove vacant properties to provide parking, have fallen on deaf ears and almost weekly, parked cars are being damaged in ‘hit and run’ like incidents.

West Bound Traffic Delays In Thurles Over Next Three Months

**Further traffic congestion and delays expected in Thurles town west**

More Thurles traffic congestion can be expected, over the next 12 weeks, as works are expected to begin on Monday next with the laying of a new water main system on Abbey Road in the town, according to Tipperary County Council officials.

With this in mind, motorists and other road users have been advised that there will be major traffic disruption in that area, as a result of this new work, necessary to be carried out.

This work is expected to also include the construction of the delayed new ‘raised roundabout‘ on the R-660 at Abbey Road, Thurles, on the junction of the entrances to Lidl Supermarket and the Kennedy Park housing estate.

Funding for this ‘raised roundabout’ of some €75,000, had already been announced by local Cllr. Michéal Lowry, back in late January 2019. Same work had been delayed, we understand, in anticipation of the planned laying of this new water mains project.

Will NASA SpaceX Rocket Be Visible Over Tipperary Tonight?

This evenings cloudless sky could mean that residents of Ireland should be able to view the NASA SpaceX rocket as it soar across our skies tonight.

Of course this launch will depend on the weather in Florida, but hopefully the rocket will launch at 8:22pm Irish time, with two astronauts on board.

If all goes according to plan viewers should be able to view the Falcon 9 rocket under the moon, in the south-west some ten to fifteen minutes later.

The Falcon 9 rocket will take off from launchpad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida and journey to the International Space Centre.

Take Note: If the SpaceX rocket decided for one reason or another to abort after its anticipated take off this evening, it could land off the west coast of our Emerald Isle.