This article is from page 10 of the 2014-08-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
MOTORISTS are advised to expect delays in Ennis following the introduction of a one-way system aimed at alleviating traffic congestion outside one of the county’s biggest schools.
Clare County Council implementing a new one way system at Lifford Road, also known locally as Dr Daly Road.
Works to put in place the new traffic system commenced yesterday and are expected to last for approximately two weeks.
In May, members of the former Ennis Town Council gave the go-ahead for the system, which will see traffic run one way from New Road to Lifford Road.
The council proposed the system to address heavy traffic congestion at Ennis CBS primary and secondary schools around opening and closing times.
In a report to councillors at the time, executive engineer Alan Morrissey stated, “A number of near miss incidents have been reported at the school warden crossing point adjacent to this junction. Traffic congestion on New Road was cited as a major contributory factor.
“A number of cars are parking on a long stay basis at the New Road end of the L4556, which exacerbates traf fic congestion in this area at school pick up times,” he added.
In its submission to the council, CBS primary school said enrollment at the school has grown in the last few years leading to an associated increase in traffic congestion.
The school states the proposed scheme would provide a marked al- leviation to the problem. However in their submissions, residents and landowners on Lifford Road objected to the new one-way system. One resident said the proposal to “discharge traffic onto Lifford Road R352-455, will not work because it is a much busier road with restricted visibility to the right.” Another resident states, “The proposal aims to solve a traffic conges- tion issue that occurs for 20 minutes per day, 167 days a year by permanently directing traffic to a dangerous junction. The short-term congestion is far more acceptable than the proposed scheme.” Works at Lifford Road will take place typically between the hours of 8am and 6pm over the next two weeks. Traffic management control measures will be in place and will include restrictions on use of the road and the use of stop/go traffic control. Clare County Council are advising the public to reduce speed in the vicinity of the works and to expect delays, owing to the road works and traffic management controls in place. Local access will be accommodated at all times, the Council says. Dr Daly Road is the road that runs alongside the Fair Green from New Road (at the CBS Primary School) to Lifford Road (near St Joseph’s Hospital). The council states, “Under the new one-way system that traffic will be one-way northbound on Dr Daly Road, i.e. from the junction with New Road (L4554) in the direction of Lifford Road (R352-455). Informal pedestrian crossing points will be provided as part of the scheme. On street parking with a maximum stay of two hours will be provided along the western side of the road, closest to the Fair Green. Parking will be prohibited along the eastern side of the road.”