This article is from page 75 of the 2008-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 75 JPG
LOCAL Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley says he is encouraged by the response of Ennis Town Council to his request for urgent improvements to be carried out at the Tulla Road.
“The condition of Tulla Road is fast becoming a safety issue because of the amount of motorists using it on a regular basis, including local chil- dren going to school,” he said.
‘“T have been contacted by a number of people who live in the area and- who have expressed their frustration about the condition of the road and the delay in its upgrading.”
“*T have been in touch with the town engineer and I am encouraged by the level of progress being made.”
“Construction on a new roundabout and pedestrian crossing 1s expected to begin shortly at The Grove. The roundabout and pedestrian cross- ing are to be provided by a private developer in association with a new distributor road which the developer is providing and which goes North from the same junction along side The Grove development site.”
“Progress is also being made with regard to the widening and raising of
the bridge. The Town Engineer told me that the Council is now in a posi- tion to initiate planning procedures to raise the bridge deck and reduce the risk of large vehicles colliding with the bridge. It is also proposed to widen the bridge to facilitate pe- destrian and cycle facilities on the South side of the Tulla Road.
“It is hoped that the improvements will be carried out before the rail line becomes operational in 2009,” Deputy Dooley added.
“The Tulla Road between the en- trance to Gort na Blath and the by- pass itself 1s within the by-pass con- tractors site and so the entire area is to be restored in association with the by-pass over the next few months.”
“There are land acquisition issues with the proposed roundabout at Oakleigh Wood and a Compulsory Purchase Order is currently being processed.”
“IT understand the frustrations of residents living in the area and I re- layed their concerns to the Council. I am hopeful that the improvement works already underway and those due to commence shortly will relieve the inconvenience currently being imposed on them,” he concluded.