Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has rejected an improvement scheme from Clare County Council which intended to deal with the long-standing traffic problems at Blake’s Corner, Ennistymon.
TII said the two-phase scheme proposed by Clare County Council in March 2016 is an “interim solution which doesn’t cater for long term growth or vulnerable road user demands in an optimal fashion” and therefore, it is “not in a position to grant approval for scheme progression.” TII has advised the local authority to revisit the scheme proposals to address all issues “so as to maximise the chance of securing all necessary statutory approvals and limited public funding.”
Clare County Council said the project Steering Committee will engage with TII with a view to identifying solutions to the specific issues which are a cause of concern to TII.
The scheme proposed by Clare County Council comprises a two-phase project, Phase 1 of which would accommodate estimated traffic needs until 2032 at least.
Although designed and constructed to facilitate two-way traffic, the proposed new bridge would under Phase 1 operate one-way and would facilitate Lahinch-bound traffic only, with traffic from Lahinch continuing to use the existing bridge that will also function as a one-way facility. The necessity for Phase 2, which would provide for two-way traffic on the new bridge, is based on emerging traffic needs.