Tipperary councillors raise concerns over town's proposed one-way traffic management plan

Concerns have been raised over the proposed Nenagh traffic management plan which has been in the pipeline for the past number of years.

It is proposed to introduce a one-way system in the centre of the town, removing traffic signals and relocating the Nenagh to Limerick bus stop.

The plan was brought before Nenagh Municipal District councillors at their May meeting by Tipperary County Council road planners Paddy Crowley and Dermot Donovan during which they outlined the proposed changes under a Section 38 order by the council which makes the decision and executive function.

Mr Donovan said that under the present system, traffic movement through the town was slow, pedestrians were being hemmed in behind barriers, traffic signals were not coping with the high density of traffic, double traffic lanes at the Market Cross were not working and traffic flow was being interrupted due to parking and trucks loading and unloading.

He maintained all of the above was detracting from the streetscape.

Under the proposed traffic plan, Kickham Street, Pearse Street, Mitchel Street and Emmett Place would be one-way in a clockwise fashion, with all traffic signals and roundabouts removed.

The current traffic flow along Silver Street will be reversed and there will be a HGV weight restriction on Sarsfield Street to prevent lorries and trucks from turning.

The Limerick bus stop will move to Pearse Street and it is intended that a transport hub will be created at the railway station subject to getting agreement from the National Transport Authority, which so far has not been forthcoming. Raised pedestrian crossings will act as traffic controls.

“The benefits should get rid of traffic queues,” he said, and the council did not expect much traffic to be displaced on to other streets. However, this will be monitored.

District Cathaoirleach Cllr Hughie McGrath said he was looking forward to seeing how the plan will work, but had “serious concerns” over the location of the Limerick bus stop on Pearse Street.

Mr Crowley said that there had been concerns over the location but there would be extra space for buses when the current roundabout was removed at the junction of Kickham Street and Pearse Street.

They were also looking at smart technology, he said.

Cllr Joe Hannigan raised concerns over the implementation of the plan being an executive function, which meant the councillors had no real say.

He also raised concerns over the bus stops, pointing out that Rural Link had up to 15 new transport elements coming in.

Cllr Hannigan also raised concerns over trucks coming in from the Thurles direction, saying they will have to come through the town if they are heading towards Borrisokane road.

Cllr Seamus Morris also raised concerns over the use of the Section 38 executive function, saying there had been 21 submissions to the plan, but not one thing changed.

He said the council should seek a meeting with the NTA on the transport hub at the station.

Cllr Ger Darcy raised issues around Arrabawn Co-op creamery trucks and asked how they would be facilitated.

Cllr John Carroll said that in relation to bus stops, the council was being asked to “sign something that could lead to a fatality because of NTA intransigence”.

“The more I look at it, the more reservations I have about it,” said Cllr Michael O'Meara, saying it was vital to get the NTA on board.

Mr Crowley said that they also had the same concerns, but the plan would have great benefits for the town.

“I believe the hub will come, but not before the summer. We don’t want the issue of the hub to impinge on the traffic plan,” he said.

Mr Crowley said the plan would provide extra parking on Kickham Street when the bus stop moves and there would be a new raised pedestrian crossing outside the Garda Station.

“This will be a big change for Nenagh and we are liaising with the gardaí on it,” he said.

Mr Crowley said that work was due to start on the plan last Friday as a lot could be done in isolation until the council needed to get road closures.

"We will coordinate with people as it goes on. We want Nenagh to be operational," he said.