Renewed attempts to provide a footpath and pedestrian crossing across the River Fergus in Drehidnagower have formed a submission to the National Transport Authority (NTA).
A bid by the Ennis Municipal District to secure funding for what has been a described as “long-term solution” for Drehidnagower was made under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s Active Travel scheme last year was unsuccessful. The same proposal is to be put before the NTA in the Council’s initial list of Active Travel projects this year.
Both Cllr Pat Daly (FF) and Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) tabled motions seeking the installation of public lighting in the Drumcliffe area from Lees Rd to beyond Drehidnagower Bridge and Oak Park.
Existing lighting between the Bridge and Watery Rd is already in place with junction at Drumcliffe Rd also equipped, senior engineer Eamon O’Dea stated. Discussions are ongoing with the public lighting engineer to assess the feasibility of adding additional lighting from the existing power supply poles on the Drehidnagower Rd. He outlined that the long-term solution was to provide a footpath and pedestrian crossing across the River Fergus.
Construction of a roundabout at the junction of Drehidnagower Rd and Watery Rd is expected to be carried out by the developer of 66 houses on the Drehidnagower Rd “once the pandemic restrictions are lifted,” O’Dea revealed. A roundabout at the Drumcliffe Rd junction is included in the LIHAF road infrastructure, he added.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis MD, Cllr Daly detailed that “a huge amount” of people were walking the road on a daily basis. He appealed for the 200m section of the road to be lit to continue to foster the promotion of exercising. Cllr Colleran Molloy was hopeful help would be forthcoming for the residents in the area.
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) expressed her shock at the lack of accidents at the location. “It is an area of the town I’m regularly on about, it is heavily traversed with people walking, running or pushing buggies”. She highlighted that children “in dark school uniforms” were walking the route on their return from school, “how there hasn’t been an accident there is beyond me”.
Inclusion of the road in the schedule of municipal district works had been sought by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG). “This is a very important stretch of urban road that needs to be dealt with”. Cllr Mark Nestor (FF) voiced his hope that a solution would be implemented.