*An artist’s impression of the Active Travel scheme on the Tulla Rd.
ENNIS’ Active Travel scheme on the Tulla Rd is expected to start construction within the next month, senior officials in the local authority have said.
A preferred contractor has been identified for the Tulla Rd Active Travel scheme which had been due to commence this summer.
Two years ago in February 2023, €1.8m in funding for the project was granted, an additional €1.5m was received in January of this year. The entire scheme is likely to cost in the region of €5m.
Senior engineer with Clare County Council, Seán Lenihan confirmed that a preferred contractor has been identified with a letter of intent issued while non-successful applicants have received a letter of regret. “It is a twelve-month window, it is subject to some negotiation how we phase it, which bit will start and which bit will be left, that detail is left to be confirmed but it is a project costing €3m”.
Lenihan outlined that twelve months is the contract period. “Hopefully we will be able to start within a month to six weeks,” he told the September meeting of the Ennis Municipal District.
At this sitting, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) had requested that the overgrowth on the footpath approaching the Roslevan Shopping Centre from the Tulla direction be cut back as it was “requiring pedestrians to move onto the road to pass”.
Acting senior executive engineer, Paddy Tiernan stated, “The location as outlined above is on the northern side of the Tulla Road between the Roslevan roundabout and the entrance to Cluain Ros Leamhan. Ennis MD have investigated this issue and whilst minor overgrowth is present there is in fact no designated footpath at this location. Therefore it is believed pedestrians may be walking on the verge of the public road at this location and are advised to use the footpath on the opposite side of the road in the interest of safety”.
He continued, “The upcoming Tulla Road Active Travel Scheme will provide a combined footpath/cycleway in this area. Until this is constructed pedestrians should continue to utilise the existing pedestrian crossings and existing footpath on the southern side of the Tulla Road. The overgrowth as described above will be cut back before the end of September”.
Tiernan advised that “the missing link will be put in” as part of the Active Travel scheme for which “the start date imminent, it may be started by the Active Travel team next month”.
Correspondence with details on the proposed programme is to be circulated to elected members, he confirmed. “We have to be cognisant of Christmas, there will be impacts on vehicles. I know the Active Travel team are currently working that out with the contractor”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) referred to the “massive increase” in population and activity along the Tulla Rd. “It proves that population growth comes to an area over time, services have a tendency to lag behind and try catch up, we’re looking at population growth on the Drumcliffe side of Ennis that we need to put services on that side of the town and footbridge on Drehidnagower Bridge, we need to put that it and not be catching up like we are doing here. I look forward to seeing the improvements on the Tulla Rd”.
