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 A satisfactory roads network is essential for the efficient operation of any successful economy, particularly in rural Ireland. Our roads are also an essential communication link in supporting community development and facilitating, in particular, movement in rural areas, thus fostering social inclusion.
To this end, news that funding of over €10 million has just been announced for the upgrading, repair and development of some roads here in North Tipperary, is welcomed, but not before time.
An estimated €425,000 is expected to go towards the patching up of sections of the R503 which runs east-west from Thurles, County Tipperary to the N7 west of Limerick City. These long overdue repairs are said to take place targeting, in particular, surfaces around the villages of Rearcross and Newport. Another much needed €250,000 is targeted to provide resurfacing on the Portroe/Ballina road.
Work is also expected to be carried out on the Bridge at Templeree (€85,000) on the Templemore to Templetouhy road, while Rossestown Cross, Fogarty’s Junction in Clonmore and the Ragg Road, Templemore, are also targeted for repairs and upgrade.
Nenagh and Thurles Town Councils will each receive approximately €195,000 while Templemore Town Council will get €139,000 in funding for pre-approved schemes.
North Tipperary County Council will also receive €1.507,000 for use in funding other discretionary grant aid.
Expect the “Welcoming,” public relations, press releases from North Tipperary Politicians, claiming responsibility and credit, to begin appearing, just as soon as they find out.
 The Thurles to Holycross Road has now reopened following a serious collision at about 6.40pm yesterday evening.
A technical examination of the scene on the R661 Thurles road at Beakstown was completed by police this morning
Two people are understood to remain in intensive care following last night’s three car collision.
In total five people were taken to South Tipp General Hospital, with two elderly people reported as having life-threatening injuries.
Gardai in Thurles would like to hear from anyone who was in this area at around the time of the crash.
Gardaí can be contacted at Telephone 0504 25100.
 The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar has announced €100 million worth of funding for new road safety and upgrading projects at locations across Co Tipperary in 2012.
Several North Tipperary road safety projects and upgrades are to benefit under the National Road Authority’s programme of works for 2012.
The Congar/Ballylusky realignment project is included on the NRA’s programme of works. This is a 2.2 kilometre stretch of road between Ardcroney and Borrisokane and has been a major bottleneck on the N52 and the scene of numerous crashes over the years. There is no mention of the 11 year old promised Thurles Bypass, however €500,000 has been allocated to Clare County Council to allow the Shannon Crossing Project to go to An Bord Pleanála stage.
However this latest programme of works does, at last, include the long promised repair of Turtulla Bridge, Killough Bridge, Drish River Bridge and the River Suir Bridge (Barry’s Bridge).
Engineers threatened weight restrictions recently on Barry’s Bridge, in Thurles, while Turtulla Bridge was threatened with single lane and weight restrictions, way back in 2009.
Local Authorities will be advised by the NRA, during the course of the coming days, as to the exact allocation of funding for each individual project. Work is not expected to begin until at least this Summer.
The purpose of the community website Thurles.Info, since its conception just over 3 years ago, was to highlight issues which effect our wonderful town of Thurles, its people, its businesses and environs. To record and highlight our magnificent history, our successes and our failures, but most of all to give a voice to our residents on issues which effect their everyday lives. Our success has gone beyond our wildest dreams, with close to half a million readers, world wide, having visited our site over the past 30 months.
Our aim in 2012 is to continue to pursue these aspirations, following in a similar vein and yes your voice does count, so do please comment on issues raised and let your views be aired publicly. Debate will contribute to real and positive change, for the betterment of all, here in Co Tipperary. In the words of Google today, “Geniuses are not always A grade students. We welcome all mavericks.”
What is our “Rant” today? Well most of us have had an opportunity to read our local weekly newspaper the “Tipperary Star,” and in particular, the article by journalist Sinéad Goldsboro, headed “Angry Visitor Lashes Thurles Signage.”
Well in the words of Frederick R. Barnard “One look is worth a thousand words.” These pictures were taken just yesterday and highlight / confirm that local government is just not working.
This signage has been in this totally unacceptable state, since November of last year. Each week our salaried, expenses guzzling Politicians, our Local and County Councillors drive out the Dublin road and around our town, but it would appear not one of them has any influence over the National Roads Authority (NRA).
(1) Sign to our only tourist attraction, St Mary’s Famine Museum, was destroyed by County Council workers, during work on the Cathedral Street Roundabout two years ago, and re-erected as if nothing happened, please replace.
(2) Thurles Shopping Centre is not on the Nenagh Road as is currently directed.
(3) Many signs face blank walls.
(4) Traffic lights are being removed by large vehicles or are bent. Truth is that 80% of all signs are no longer standing perpendicular due to disgraceful planning.
What you have viewed here is just a fraction of our towns neglect.
Message to our Politicians, our Local and County Councillors, Sirs, we have paid our taxes, please now provide the promised services.
 It has been officially confirmed, Thurles is between nowhere and nowhere, in Ireland’s grand scheme of things, all thanks to the time wasting of those we elected to represent our interests, both presently and in the past.
I refer of course to the slow decision making process in the choosing of the preferred route for the N62 by-pass for Thurles which has now, at last, been decided. The proposed 8-kilometre by-pass was chosen by the Mid West Design team over two other options and will consist of a 100 metre-wide corridor to the east of the town stretching from Brittas to Turtulla.
This proposed single carriageway by-pass will run from Brittas through to Turtulla via Loughtagalla, the Moyne Road and the Dublin Road and will require four roundabouts and three river crossings without the demolition of any present existing structure.
This final decision will now also allow other corridors under review and situated west of the town, halted from immediate development, to revert to their previous zoning status.
Details of this plan can be viewed by the public from Tuesday next through to November 10th at Town Council offices on Slievenamon Road Thurles, the Council Civic Offices in Nenagh and at Thurles Library in the Source, Cathedral St.
We are unlikely, however, to see the usual gombeen type press releases from politicians, each claiming to have delivered on this 10 year promise. So, before local residents begin jumping for joy, believing they will no longer have to witness the daily chaos caused by HGVs maneuvering around Liberty Square from the town’s very narrow, tight side streets, there is a catch. Well a €48 million catch to be precise, so there is no immediate prospect of this by-pass ever being built in North Tipperary’s present political and financial climate.
Our only ray of sunlight, perhaps is the freeing up of hundreds of acres of land which has been effectively sterilised due to the planning process.
Ah, sure as me granny used to say “If it wasn’t for venetian blinds sure it would be curtains for us all.”
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