Roads « Thurles Information

Thurles Link Road Open

The first 7km section of the Nenagh-Limerick M7 motorway, known as the Nenagh Bypass, which includes a new link to the Thurles Interchange, is now officially open

The section comprises part of Nenagh’s existing N7 bypass, which has been upgraded to motorway standard, and includes an interchange with the R498 Thurles road.

Full motorway restrictions apply with temporary traffic management and speed restrictions remaining in place on both the Eastern and Western ends of this section of the Motorway.
The interchange will now enable traffic to join or exit the motorway at Knockalton instead of having to come through Nenagh town.

The section is opening ahead of the main 38km Nenagh-Limerick motorway, which is not expected to carry traffic until March or April 2010.

Project contractor Bóthar Hibernian is advising motorists to exercise “extreme caution” while temporary traffic management is being removed from this route.

Taoiseach Visits Flood Ravaged Tipperary

An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, was in Clonmel, Co.Tipperary yesterday surveying the severe damage caused by flooding over recent days, where at least 30 homes have been damaged by flooding with a large number of families being displaced.

An Taoiseach Mr Brian Cowen

Mr Cowen, when asked what funding would be available to those who cannot get insurance, stated that the issue would be discussed within Government today.

South Tipperary’s Junior Minister for the Office of Public Works, Martin Mansergh is confident that funding for flood relief schemes will not be cut in the Budget. He said he had met with the Finance Minister last week and he is very confident that major works underway presently in Clonmel, will still continue, despite substantial cuts to OPW funding.

Meanwhile as homeowners and businesses in North Tipperary wade through the damage caused by a week of torrential rain, Fine Gael will this week use its Private Members’ Time to put forward a Motion to ensure a new national flood alert system is established.

Deputy Noel Coonan extended his deep sympathy to families, property and business owners throughout the constituency who have been devastated by floods. The Deputy commended the work done and dedication shown by the Defence Forces, Garda Síochána, Civil Defence, Local Authorities and communities and the Red Cross in battling the worst flooding in living memory.

As the clean-up begins, Fine Gael believes we must tackle the issue of flooding in the future to maintain public safety and avoid the severe social and economic hardship caused by serious flooding this time round.

Yesterday, the N65 Portumna/Borrisokane Road was impassable at Carrigahorig. Property owners and landowners from south of Killaloe/Ballina to Limerick City are on high alert as low lying areas of the River Shannon were at serious risk of flooding and the Borrisokane to Athlone Road was closed at Rathcabbin.

The Blackcastle Road out of Templemore is badly flooded yet again. This road has been prone to flooding for years but there seems to be no urgency in addressing these flooding black spots. Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer. Blackcastle Road has been under consideration for a long time for remedial flooding works and Deputy Noel Coonan will be seeking assurances from the Government that funding is provided to implement OPW projects that have been planned locally.
Continue reading Taoiseach Visits Flood Ravaged Tipperary

New Thurles Traffic Management Plan Began Today

A fourteen day trial of a new traffic management plan came into effect today in Thurles.
This new system, which has the full approval of An Garda Síochána includes a number of new one-way routes, put into place from early this morning.

However Gardaí are continuing to remind motorists who are entering Thurles from Templemore that they must stop and yield to the two lanes of traffic coming down right on the now one-way Cuchulainn Road, while noting also that traffic from Nenagh direction is now being diverted left away from Parnell Street, which is presently one-way only to drivers leaving Liberty Square.

So during this trial period “Lets be careful out there folks, concentrate and watch out for those newly erected signs.”

So how was it for you today ?

Your comments, suggestions welcomed.

In the meanwhile – Drive With Care.

Thurles Bypass Plans Go On Display

Thurles people are strongly urged to engage with the consultation process for the planned route selection for the N62 Thurles Bypass which were on display to the public in the Anner Hotel yesterday from 2pm-8pm.

“A full study has been completed and five potential routes have now been identified by the National Roads Authority (NRA) as options for the bypass”, stated Co. Councillor John Kennedy , who attended yesterdays display .

When the Public display in the Anner Hotel ended, the plans for the suggested route corridors went on display in the Source Library, the Thurles Town Council Offices in Thurles and the County Council Offices in Nenagh and will remain there until Wednesday the 14th of October.

Note: The deadline for all submissions is the 16th of October next.

North Tipp Co.Councillor Mr John Kennedy

The Thurles bypass is one of only two NRA capital projects presently being funded in the country, the other project being the Castleisland Bypass, Co.Kerry, which has not yet been started. All other projects nationwide have been temporarily frozen because of the country’s economic difficulties.

Meanwhile work will begin shortly on other road developments in the area with the final phase of a €2.5 million road improvements package, to deal with the badly needed resurfacing of the Holycross/Beakstown/Thurles road, which is expected to begin this coming weekend.

Parnell Street To Become One-Way

Still on road matters, some Thurles councillors are outraged that the Town Council has decided to progress with their controversial traffic management plan.

Thurles Area County Councillors were informed at a recent meeting that the council is going ahead with a one-way system on the west side of Liberty Square. This plan will now make Parnell Street one-way only and divert all traffic, including heavy goods vehicles, from the Nenagh Road onto Cuchulainn Road.

The Town Clerk, Mr.Michael Ryan, stated, that in the interests of safety, a two-week trial of this proposed plan will take place during the mid term school break next month and following this, a final decision would be made. Gardai have been pushing for this one way system, in an effort to speed up the constant early morning and mid afternoon traffic jams, caused mainly by excess traffic on school runs. Alternative plans, to limit parking on Parnell Street, have been shelved and are viewed by many local residents as completely unworkable.