So why, for the past 9 weeks, is the signpost offering directions to the town of Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, pointing in the opposite direction; now today continuing to remain angled, pointing down towards Wolfe Tone Place, latter situated at the junction of Westgate and Liberty Square.
Yesterday, in a survey, we asked a few of the locals for their views on this nine week old phenomenon and were offered the following explanations:-
(1) It is an political effort by Fianna Fáil to highlight the annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration, due to take place on the Sunday nearest June 20th 2024, next year in Bodenstown graveyard, Co. Kildare; latter date in June the birthdate of Wolfe Tone, known as the Father of Republicanism.
(2) It’s an effort to avoid the multitude of potholes on every road driving into and driving out of Thurles.
(3) A concerted effort by those who consistently fail to attract tourism to Thurles, to delay visitors, by sending them up a short road that is blocked off at one end; better known by the French word ‘cul-de-sac’ or translated into English ‘bottom of the bag’.
(4) A deliberate attempt by public representatives, including TDs to increase their motor milage, when asked to attend meetings in Nenagh Co. Council offices and Dáil Éireann.
What do I think, you ask? Well now that you do ask, and having viewed all the other signposts pointing in the wrong direction in Thurles, [e.g. to name but one, the Thurles carpark sign supposedly directing motorists to the new carpark off Liberty Square, ]; other issues, such as the weeds now growing actively up through our pavements; the state of our river Suir, and the overall dowdy appearance of what was once a hive of industry; I would put it down to simply just poor town administration.
Explain for what are we paying Property Tax annually?
Pedestrians beware. Over two weeks ago the Thurles pedestrian crossing lights on the North side of Lidl Supermarket were adjusted by a high sided motor vehicle. The issue continues to be unattended too, with the lights now facing south instead of due west.
Thurles pedestrian crossing lights, north of Lidl Supermarket on Slievenamon Road (N62), latest lighting safety system to take a hit, over two weeks ago.
Once again, as can be seen in picture two, as a result of poor engineering skills, the standards holding the lighting system, have been positioned too close to the edge of the road, same carrying fast moving traffic as drivers attempt to beat the traffic light system.
This brings to five the number of currently damaged pedestrian traffic light systems partially repaired, having been damaged by high sided vehicles.
The waste of taxpayers’ money, by Tipperary Co. Council engineers, continues unabated.
Major confusion over progress on Thurles Inner Relief Road, following a press release by Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill yesterday.
The confusion arises over whether we believe Tipperary TD Mr Cahill; Tipperary Co. Council; Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin or Local Independent Councillor Mr Michéal Lowry.
According to Cllr. Mr Hanafin and Cllr. Mr Lowry, in a report on TipperaryLive, Cllr. Hanafin requested “an update on land acquisition, saying it was a vital piece of infrastructure for Thurles”, while Cllr Lowry said “People want clarity, and the council should be able to make a plan. An inner relief road will be a very important piece of the jigsaw for relieving some of the traffic issues in the town”. Meanwhile, on radio, Cllr. Hanafin has confirmed that €75,000 had been allocated for the Thurles Inner Relief Road, under the Regional and Local Roads Programme which will allow the design phase to progress. Same announcement had been made by Minister Eamon Ryan(Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport) earlier on Tuesday March 28th, 2023. Minister for Transport, Mr Eamon Ryan also announced in the previous month (February 2023), details of a €626 million investment programme for 2023, for regional and local roads, with Co. Tipperary to receive €33.5M for 2023; none of which was allocated for a Thurles Inner Relief Road.
Thurles Inner Relief Road – the project denied by deceitful elected representatives and officials.
Meanwhile, the Tipperary County Councils Management Report To Council – Dated just 6 weeks ago – June 2023 states on page 12. [Readers may view PDF at bottom of page by clickingHERE ]
Project: Inner Relief Road Thurles. Inner Relief Road is a proposed local link between the N62 and the Mill Road. Progress to date: The proposed scheme comprises approximately 1.1km of new road with: a signalised junction on the Slievenamon Road at the Clongour Road junction; a new priority junction with Mill Road and, 5 no. intermediate priority junctions to provide access; a 50-metre span tied bowstring arch crossing the River Suir; public lighting; and flood alleviation works along the River Suir. This scheme is on the NDP and DoT approval will be required to allow it to go to detailed design. Lidl has completed construction of a section of the road for access to new store.
Next Stage: Secure funding to deliver the Inner Relief Road project and finalise land acquisition.
Then came the press release yesterday August 16th, from Mr Jackie Cahill.
His press release read as follows; same forwarded by Mr Cahill’s Parliamentary Assistant Mr Ryan O’Meara.
Headline: Thurles Inner Relief Road: “It’s time for TII to get out of the way and do their job” – Jackie Cahill TD.
Thurles TD Jackie Cahill has called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to stop stalling on the Thurles Inner Relief Road and to allow it to proceed to construction. Deputy Cahill’s intervention comes following a serious accident in Thurles yesterday afternoon, where a pedestrian was seriously injured while crossing Liberty Square. Speaking on this today, the Fianna Fáil TD said: “Yesterday afternoon, a serious incident took place on Liberty Square in Thurles where a pedestrian crossing the Square was involved in an accident with a heavy goods vehicle. This is the third serious accident to take place on Liberty Square in a short period of time. “I secured the inclusion of the Thurles Inner Relief Road in the updated National Development Plan under this Government, with the assistance of Minister Michael McGrath. The money is there to construct this road and it is now well past time for TII to stop dragging their heels on this project. “TII do not see the Thurles Inner Relief Road as a priority. It is time for that utter nonsense and anti-road mentality to stop once and for all. The recent accidents in Liberty Square are proof that an Inner Relief Road in Thurles is now an absolute priority. We need a second river crossing in the town to take as much traffic, especially heavy vehicles, out of the town centre as possible. “The ongoing issues with the acquisition of land needs to be addressed immediately. Tipperary County Council cannot excuse this any longer and need to CPO the remaining land in question. “The Thurles Inner Relief Road is in the Capital Development Plan as a result of Minister Michael McGrath’s work on this project with me. The money is there. The need is blatantly there. It’s time for TII to get out of the way and do their job by moving it to design and development immediately.” ENDS.
Seven Questions now being asked today:
(1) Has the land required to build the “Thurles Inner Relief Road” been purchased from the person offering the property for sale, namely the vendor? Can Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who are unable to resurface an existing road in Thurles, now construct a road on land which is not in public ownership? (2) Taxpayers would like to know what was the final purchase price of this property and on what date was the contract signed and by whom? (3) Where can be viewed the final design for this “Inner Relief Road” which has already brought about the total eradication of a possible tourist attraction, namely the historic Great Famine “Double Ditch”? (4) Who has won contracts for the 50-metre long traffic bearing, span tied, bowstring, arched bridge, the flood alleviation works, and the public lighting system? Will the lights be left burning for 24 hours each day, as is presently the case in Thurles? (5) We note from Mr Cahill’s press release that he is a “Thurles TD”, not as is usual a “Tipperary TD”. This being the case, based on his intimate knowledge of Thurles streets, explain how heavy goods vehicles entering Thurles from the Templemore town road, can be assisted by the building of an inner relief road on the other side of Thurles, designed to join the N62 with the Mill Road? How will an eighteen wheeler cab and trailer, travelling in any direction to service Thurles, especially those travelling from north of the county, be prevented from entering the town by the use of one minor inner relief road, joining the N62 with the Mill Road? (6) Why, under this Government, was the Thurles Ring Road; same, planned for over the past 25 years, not included in the National Development Plan? (7) How much taxpayers money has been alloted by Mr Michael McGrath, (Minister for Finance), for this “Inner Road” project?
As the political deception continues, perhaps some elected representative might like to communicate with us and attempt to answer the 7questions, above posed.
For the second time in 5 days a serious collision has brought Thurles traffic to a total standstill.
Haulage truck collides with male pedestrian on Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Pic: G. Willoughby.
The accident, this afternoon, involving a large haulage truck and an elderly male pedestrian, happened at between 3:00pm and 3:30pm at the junction of O’Donovan Rossa Street and Liberty Square in the town.
Two ambulances together with paramedics and a large number of Gardaí quickly attended the scene, to assist and investigate the incident, and to direct, where possible, traffic which remained totally congested.
The elderly male pedestrian, understood to be from the immediate locality, was, we understand, seriously injured and has been transferred to hospital by ambulance.
This is the 3rd pedestrian to be struck by motorised vehicles in the Liberty Square area, since 2018, following so called traffic calming measures introduced into the area, latter which has now destroyed the business centre of Thurles and has granted pedestrians a false sense of safety.
As of 6:30pm this evening all traffic hoping to proceed eastward on Liberty Square are prohibited from doing so, and motorists are advised to avoid the centre of Thurles altogether.
A traffic accident on Slievenamon Road (N62), Thurles this afternoon (August 10th 2023), close to the entrance to Liberty Square town centre, which occurred at approximately 4:00pm, once again brought the town to a standstill.
Motorists beware. Traffic accident on Slievenamon Road (N62), Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Pic: G. Willoughby.
The accident involved two cars, both travelling in the same direction, with one vehicle being overturned. Two ambulances together with Gardaí and three sections of Thurles fire brigade quickly attended the scene. Thankfully, no injuries were reported and in the past half hour the overturned vehicle has been righted.
The road still remains closed, however, and traffic remains congested, particularly with vehicles coming from their places of work, from south of the town. Drivers are advised to avoid the Thurles area until the roadway is reopened to normal traffic.
UPDATE: N62 Slievenamon Road Road has reopened to traffic.
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