“TRAFFIC CHAOS” in Ennis is posing a risk to how emergency services can respond to incidents in the county town, a county councillor has warned.
Water improvements works in the Clonroadmore area of Ennis has led to significant traffic delays on the Clare Rd and Station Rd, which is also impacting on activity in the town centre on Carmody Street, Mill Rd, Parnell St and the Kilrush Rd.
In correspondence issued to the management of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the “traffic chaos” is frustrating residents, workers and visitors to the county town.
He acknowledged that the water mains replacement was an essential project but flagged that it coincided with the ongoing closure of O’Connell Street to traffic during working hours and a recent change to the sequencing of traffic lights at the Carmody St junction on the Kilrush Rd.
Cllr Flynn confirmed that he has asked the management to “reopen O Connell Street to traffic while there is no public infrastructure work being carried out in that street and that the traffic lights sequencing be reset to original. I also outlined that like residents and businesses, I am concerned that due to street and road closures and traffic delays that emergency vehicles may not be able to respond to emergency incidents in and around Ennis a timely fashion”.
An appropriate timing of works, a construction management plan to minimise noise and traffic disruption plus consultation with affected residents and businesses needs to take place between Clare County Council, Uisce Éireann and the appointed contractor on the water mains project in Clonroadmore.
