TRAFFIC around O’Garney Bridge in Sixmilebridge has been described as “chaotic” as Clare County Council moves forward with the bridge’s Safe Crossing Project.
The update was given at the September meeting of the Shannon Municipal District following a Notice of Motion from Cllr John Crowe (FG).
Cllr Crowe called for work to commence on the O’Garney Bridge Safe Crossing Project, including improvements to walkability, a safer environment for motorists and measures to relieve the current traffic bottleneck on the bridge.
In a written response, Senior Executive Officer Suzie Clifford said the project was included in Clare County Council’s investment plan.
“The O’Garney Bridge Safe Project is included in Clare County Council’s Investment Plan,” she said.
“The Shannon MD recently commissioned a traffic survey report for the project. The MD is currently actioning recommendations arising from the report.”
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Crowe thanked Ms Clifford and her team for their work on the project.
He said there had already been a lot of work put into the issue and pointed to the planned opening of a new Lidl store in February, saying the area was currently “chaotic”.
Cllr Crowe said the safety of pedestrians, motorists and children needed to be considered, with traffic lights and pedestrian crossing facilities among the measures he would like to see.
“This needs to be sorted,” he said, adding that people were becoming “very annoyed and frustrated” with the traffic.
He said traffic on the bridge was an issue that was raised at almost every local meeting he attended.
Cllr Crowe said he was delighted to see the project being pushed forward by Ms Clifford and her team.
“If something is not done we’re in serious trouble,” he said.
Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF), who seconded the motion, said he hoped the project would be successful.
He said the Sixmilebridge team had recently held a meeting on the issue and expressed hope that progress would lead to safer movement for both traffic and pedestrians across the bridge.
Cllr O’Gorman also said consideration should be given to the possibility of a second bridge in the future, given increasing housing and traffic volumes in the area.
Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) said a reserve plan had been in place more than 20 years ago for a crossing on the Shannon side of the bridge.
He said the plan had encountered difficulties at the time, including a planning permission challenge.
Cllr Mulcahy said there was a need to consider pedestrian crossings and referred to other locations where bridges had been adapted to improve pedestrian access.
Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District Cllr David Griffin (FF) also supported the motion.
He said Cllr Crowe had been dealing with the issue for decades and that the situation was becoming “worse and worse”.
Cllr Griffin welcomed the progress and said the opening of the new Lidl store would create additional traffic management issues in the area.
He also agreed with Cllr O’Gorman that longer-term consideration should be given to another crossing, saying there had been a need for a proper road crossing of the river for many years.
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