Construction of the Killaloe Bypass and Shannon Bridge Crossing has been signalled as “the single most biggest influence on the entire community of East Clare”.
In August, the main scheme works tender was published by Clare County Council for the proposed Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and R494 Improvement Scheme. The entire scheme is approximately 6.2km and will cross the River Shannon approximately 1km to the south of the existing Killaloe Bridge.
Queries and clarifications were sought following the publication of the tender with site visits organised for pre-qualified bidders in the middle of September.
Spring 2022 remains the target for the commencement of construction on site, senior engineer with the Council’s project management office, Seán Lenihan detailed. This remains “subject to Department of Transport approval”. Friday is the tender return date which precedes review, assessment and recommendation.
An update had been sought by Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) at a meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District. He was hopeful a contract would be awarded by the end of this year. “This is the single most biggest influence on the entire community of East Clare. I welcome the clarity, we’re on track to get it up and running, hopefully we will have our new bridge crossing and bypass within three years,” he stated.
Cllr Pat Burke (FG) questioned some of the comments from the senior engineer. “I thought we had approval got, why is Seán Lenihan coming back every time we raise this saying ‘subject to Department of Transport approval’. I thought it was given approval.
Acting senior executive officer in the Killaloe MD, Morgan Lahiffe explained, “It got approval to proceed to tender. Each part of the process will need approval”.
