Travel | Thurles Information

Driving Licence Exemption For Over 70’s During Covid-19.

The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Ms Hildegarde Naughton, (FG Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency since 2016), has announced an extension in the exemption that allows for those aged over 70 years old, to apply for a driving licence, without the need to provide a medical report.

Her decision comes following the current surge of Covid-19 cases and in order to ease the burden on Irish medical services.

This decision means that persons of 70 years of age, or over, can apply for to renew their current driving licence without the need to submit a medical report. Same is based on the condition that they do not have an identified or specified illness and are not applying for a licence to drive a truck or a passenger carrier, e.g. a bus or similar category.

This measure will now eliminate the need for drivers over the age of 70 years from having to make an unnecessary journey to their local GP or congregate at their National Driver Licence Service centre.

Those over 70 years old, can view the 4b category on their current driving licence, to check the licence expiry date.

HSE, Gardaí & Tipp. Co. Co Make Special Appeal

According to the HSE, the Gárdaí and the Local Authority, positive action and changes to behaviour remain essential to ensuring that hospital and community healthcare services locally are enabled to deal with demands, that the optimum levels of living safely alongside the threat of the virus are sustained and that Co. Tipperary stays at Level 2 of the public restrictions in place in Ireland.

The Chair of the South East Regional Steering Group for Major Emergency Management (comprising the three principal response agencies: An Garda Siochana, the HSE and the Local Authorities) and Chief Officer of HSE/South East Community Healthcare Kate Killeen White, joined by Specialist in Public Health Medicine and Director of the HSE’s South East Public Health Dept. Dr Carmel Mullaney and the General Manager of South Tipperary General Hospital Maria Barry are reminding the public to:

Wash your hands well and often
Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
Limit contact with others and maintain physical distancing.
Wear a face mask or covering where appropriate.

When such actions are taken, the HSE says, doing so not only prevents the transmission of the virus, but also protects older and vulnerable people and healthcare workers.

The Chair of Tipperary County Council Cllr. Michael Smith and the Chief Executive Joe McGrath are also urging people not to allow everyone’s hard work to date in 2020 to be undermined and are re-iterating that individual actions do matter and that if those in Co. Tipperary live by the advice being given, that schools can be kept open and other points reached on Ireland’s roadmap to recovery be maintained.

The Gárda Chief Superintendent in Tipperary Derek Smart points to what has been evident to date in 2020: the country moving from a short-term emergency response approach to a medium-term one, to manage risk and repair the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on society. Chief Superintendent Smart concludes the joint message by reminding everyone that we are at a critical point in tackling the spread of COVID-19 and people in Tipperary must take personal responsibility to avoid situations that are a risk to themselves, their family and their friends.

Delays Expected On Templemore – Thurles Road – Oct. 5th – Nov. 27th

Temporary Traffic Management N62 Templemore Thurles Road 07:00hrs to 18:00hrs, Monday to Friday, for the duration of works, 5th October to the 27th November.

Temporary Traffic Management N62 Templemore Thurles Road 07:00hrs to 18:00hrs , Monday to Friday, for the duration of the works 5th October to the 27th November.

Pavement Improvement Scheme.
The project commences at the junction of the Borrisoleigh Road (R501) and the N62 (Thurles Road) extending approximately 2km to the South (toward Thurles town).

Commuters Take Note;
Temporary Traffic Management will be in place, and while the N62 will be open to traffic, some delays can be expected.

Minor diversions (of side road traffic) will be in place.

Tipperary M8 Road Closures Notice 2020 / 2021

Temporary Closing Of Road Roads Act, 1993-2015, (Section 75 Of The Roads Act 1993) Roads Regulations, 1994

Reason For Closure:
To Facilitate road works, road stud and road marking renewals by Egis Lagan on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Notice is hereby given that Tipperary County Council proposes to make an order closing: M8 between Junction 6 and Junction 5 Northbound Closed on 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 23rd and 24th Nov. 2020.

• Divert from M8 Junction 6 (Northbound) via Horse & Jockey, proceed along R639, on to Littleton, L-4202 Twomileborris and re-join M8 at Junction 5.

M8 between Junction 6 and Junction 7 Southbound closed on 11th, 12th, 23rd, 24th, 25th Nov and 3rd Dec.

• Divert from M8 Junction 6 (Southbound) via Horse & Jockey, proceed along R639 and re-join M8 at Junction 7.

M8 between Junction 7 and Junction 6 Northbound 18th, 19th, 26th, 30th Nov, 1st and 2nd Dec.

• Divert from M8 at Junction 7 (Northbound), proceed along R639, on to Horse & Jockey and re-join M8 at Junction 6.

M8 between Junction 7 and Junction 8 Southbound 10th, 11th, 15th, 16th March 2021.

• Divert M8 at Junction 7 (Southbound), proceed along R639 into Main Street Cashel, continue to Upper Friar Street Cashel, re-join M8 at Junction 8.

M8 between Junction 8 and Junction 7 (Northbound) – 1st, 2nd,3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th March 2021.

• Divert from M8 Junction 8 (Northbound), travel along R639 Cahir Road, continue to R639 Main Street Cashel, on to R639 Dublin Road and re-join M8 at Junction 7.

M8 between Junction 8 and Junction 9 Southbound 23rd & 24th March 2021.

• Divert M8 at Junction 8 (Southbound), travel along Upper Friar Street Cashel, on to R639 Main Street Cashel, R639 Cahir Road and re-join M8 at Junction 9.

M8 between Junction 9 and Junction 8 Northbound 25th & 26th March 2021.

• Divert from M8 Junction 9 (Northbound), proceed along R639 Cahir road, on to R639 Main Street Cashel, then Friar Street Cashel and re-join M8 at Junction 8.

M8 at Junction 10 Merge and Diverge lanes Northbound & Southbound 25th, 26th, 30th November, 2020.

• Traffic travelling North on the M8 wishing to take Junction 10 will need to exit at Junction 11, proceed along the R639 to Cahir / N24.

• Traffic travelling South on the M8 wishing to take Junction 10 will need to take Junction 9 Southbound onto the R639, proceed to N24/Cahir.

• Traffic wishing to join the M8 at Junction 10 Northbound, proceed Northbound along the R639 onto the M8 via Junction 9.

• Traffic wishing to join the M8 at Junction 10 Southbound, proceed Southbound along the N24 onto R639 and join the M8 via Junction 11.

M8 between Junction 11 and Junction 10 Northbound 29th, 30th, 31st March and 1st April 2021.

• Divert from M8 at Junction 11 (Northbound), proceed along R639 and re-join M8 at Junction 10.

M8 between Junction 11 and Junction 12 Southbound – 1st, 2nd,14th,15th, 16th, 17th Dec. 2020

• Divert M8 at Junction 11 (Southbound), travel along R639 Kilbeheny and re-join M8 via Junction 12.

Objections to the proposed temporary closure may be submitted in writing to the Director of Services, Roads & Transportation, Tipperary County Council, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, no later than 12:00 noon on Thursday 15th October 2020 or by e-mail to roadclosures@tipperarycoco.ie

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.