Liberty Square, Thurles.(Top of picture facing in an easterly direction. New car parking area outlined on right hand side.) Picture G. Willoughby
The contract for the long-awaited refurbishment of Liberty Square in Thurles was signed yesterday October 24th. Plans had initially been finalised and announced first in February 2017.
The Company of Mr David Walsh Civil Engineering Ltd has been successful in winning the Tipperary Co. Council tender.
We understand that work is expected to commence towards the end of November 2019, beginning first with the new carpark provision, same located on the southside of the town. Work here is expected to be completed in approximately four months, (March 2020).
Work to refurbish Liberty Square itself is then expected to begin in March 2020.
A male motorcyclist, aged in his 30’s, has lost his life following a fatal road crash in North Co. Tipperary.
The motorcycle is understood to have accidentally struck another parked vehicle, at approximately 7.40pm last evening, on the Ballinderry road, close to the village of Puckane.
Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene before his body was taken to University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem is expected be carried out later today.
Gardaí are appealing for any information and have requested witnesses with knowledge of the incident to contact them at Nenagh Garda Station Tel: 067 50450; the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111 or indeed any garda station.
Yesterday’s tragic road death brings to 118 the number of persons killed on Irish roads so far this year, 2019; 7 more than for the same period in 2018. So far this year 21 pedestrians; 62 drivers; 14 passengers; 14 motorcyclists and 7 pedal cyclists have lost their lives.
A total of 149 people lost their lives on Ireland’s roads during the whole of 2018, as a result of 142 fatal road collisions.
It had been widely broadcast by local Town Councillors, that work on the revamping of Liberty Square in Thurles would commence in August 2019. Now however, according to Co. Council officials, the first week of September last, only saw tenders being sought for the first time.
Liberty Square, Thurles.(Top of picture facing in an easterly direction). Picture G. Willoughby
Plans had been finalised and initially announced in February 2017, now nearly 3 years later, the successful contractor is expected to be appointed in mid-October 2019, possibly start work on the new car park at the end of October or early November of this year, on the new carpark, demolished some 16 months ago and then neglected. The appointed contractor is expected to finish this carpark area by March or April of 2020, thus hopefully continuing to grant consumer access to the centre of Thurles.
In February / March of 2020, the Co. County officials promise that we should see the beginning of the temporary, yet necessary removal of some currently existing street furniture on Liberty Square itself, followed by new road re-alignments and the later re-introduction of both old and new street furniture, together with the new revised traffic management plan.
When it comes to announcements from reticent, cagy and guarded officials in Tipperary Co. Council, we have all learned to refrain from holding our breath.
A new daily Local Link bus service route, (391) in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, will connect Thurles (Departing Thurles Railway Station) with Limerick, beginning its service on Monday next, September 23rd.
Thurles – Limerick New Local Link Bus Timetable
This route will include stops in Ballycahill; Upperchurch; Kilcommon; Rearcross; Newport; Knockbrack; University College Limerick (UL), haulting at Authors Quay.
Same is expected to bring about a permanent enhancement and a long-term transport solution to meet the needs of 3rd level students, city and town shoppers and other visiting commuters, living in these rural areas.
The first daily service will depart from Thurles at 7:00am, while the last daily service will depart at 4:00pm.
The first return bus service (Departing Author’s Quay) from Limerick will leave at 8.50am, with the last service departing this same return Limerick – Thurles route at 5.50pm.
Note: All services will be in operation seven days a week, including Bank Holiday Mondays.
A couple of places to avoid in your rush to view the new An Post offices in Thurles Shopping Centre, come Monday morning next.
Well, unless of course you are on the look out for the opportunity to make a compensation claim against the Thurles Municipal District Council and Tipperary Co. Council.
(Area 1) Try to avoid the corner of Thomond Road and Slievenamon Road (See picture 1 above) where the footpath collapsed 8 years ago. You will note that earlier this year areas of this footpath were partially repaired, (Picture 2 shows the evidence) leaving the worst area unattended.
Obviously, the contractor involved ran out of cement or water or could it be Tipperary Co. Council ran out of money. Whatever, who really gives a damn.
(Area 2) Meanwhile, the other area to avoid, takes us to Emmett Street, (See picture 3 above). Emmett street (For the benefit of unfamiliar Tipp Co. Council engineers) can be found south of Barry’s Bridge, Thurles. Here we have a subsidence in the roadway.
No it is not a pothole; we can recognise potholes, last count there were 73,254.5 potholes in just Thurles streets alone and increasing. No this is most definitely a gradual caving in or sinking of an area of tarmac. Here is an ideal chance to upgrade, if your suspensions or steering rack are a bit wonky, if you know what I mean.
Makes one wonder though in the latter case. Could someone be attempting to tunnel out of the town in an effort to find employment.
Trusting this information is of some help when you go out and about on Monday next.
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