Ennis’s ‘road to nowhere’ opens … kind of

A LINK road which in recent years gained the uncoveted title of ‘road to nowhere’ will finally welcome its first cars this morning.

Clare County Council has confirmed that Phase 1 of the Ennis Northern Inner Relief Road link will open this morning (May 17).

The 520m road development in the townland of Dulick links the R-458 Gort Road with the Ennis Information Age Park Building and the Clare Technology Park.

The opening marks the completion of the first phase of an overall plan to provide a link road between the Gort Road and the Tulla road (R-352). It follows almost eight years of the road laying idle after up to €4m was spent on the project.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Tom McNamara, and Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Paul Murphy, have both welcomed the development describing it as “strategic infrastructure that will open up the Clare Technology Park to new investment.”

Pat Dowling, CEO of Clare County Council, said, “Clare County Council considers the provision of this roadway to be of strategic importance to the development of the town of Ennis. The purpose of this road is twofold in that it will improve traffic flows in the northern area of Ennis town and also provide safe and proper access to Clare Technology Park.”

The General Design department of Clare County Council carried out the final design work on the roadway. Jada Projects (contractor), on behalf of Clare County Council, recently completed 450 meters of the roadway which connects to a 70-metre section of road that Shannon Commercial Properties has also recently completed within their lands.

Pictured on the new Ennis Northern Inner Relief Road link L-R; John Moylan, Chief Technician, Clare County Council; Karl O’Callaghan, Technician, Clare County Council; Councillor Paul Murphy, Mayor of Ennis; Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council; Councillor Tom McNamara, Mayor of Clare; Tom Tiernan, Senior Engineer, Clare County Council; Carmel Kirby, Director of Physical Development. Photograph Eamon Ward. Free to use.

The works include the provision of public lighting, stone walls, timber post and rail fencing, public utility ducts for ESB and telecommunications, surface water drainage, water supply, signage and lining, a bidirectional 3-metre-wide shared use footpath/cycle path, kerbing and landscaping.

Carmel Kirby, Director of Physical Development, added, “This road is vital for Clare Technology Park and opens it up for further investment, expansion and job creation, continuing the success story that Ennis has become.”