Two-way traffic resumes on section of N24 in Carrick-on-Suir after one lane closed for six months
Traffic on a large section of the N24 in Carrick-on-Suir town centre returned to two lanes flow last Thursday after six months of closure of one lane as part of the ongoing upgrade of 3.8km of the national route in the town.
The ending of the single lane traffic flow on the N24 between O’Mahony Avenue and the Ash Park Junction was welcome news for motorists who travel through the town regularly as the arrangement in place since January 30 was a source of traffic delays in the town centre.
The one-lane traffic system ended a month ahead of the original scheduled date of September 1 but the N24 upgrade works are continuing elsewhere in the town.
The road works are currently concentrated on the Pill Road while Carrick’s three secondary schools are closed for the summer holidays.
The Carrick-on-Suir Pavement Scheme got underway last September and at that time it was estimated the Transport Infrastructure Ireland funded project would cost about €6.8m excluding VAT.
The scheme involves rehabilitation of the road surface, new footpaths, cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings and traffic signals and other safety measures aimed at providing a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle road users, particularly along sections of the N24 where clusters of accidents have occurred.
Carrick-on-Suir councillors welcomed the lifting of the one-way traffic flow on this section of the N24 at Carrick Municipal District’s monthly meeting last Thursday.
The praised the contractor, Glas Civil Engineering Limited, based at Kilheffernan near Kilsheelan, for its handling of the project to date.
Carrick MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Kieran Bourke said it was fantastic to see the second lane on the N24 re-opened that morning and described the standard of work on the road as “brilliant”.
He praised a number of council staff for their assistance and support when he approached them with issues about the project, which he pointed out were sorted out to everyone’s satisfaction.
Cllr David Dunne echoed Cllr Bourke’s praise for the contracting firm’s performance on the project to date.
He acknowledged there were “frustrations and delays” with the road works but commented that the criticism from some people was “over the top”.
Nevertheless, he accepted the project has impacted local businesses but added that the town was “over the worst of it now”.
Cllrs Dunne and Bourke highlighted to council management the deterioration of Mill Street and other sections of the route where traffic was diverted through over the past six months and called for them to be resurfaced.
Cllr Bourke requested the council to submit a special application for funding to repair the damage to Mill Street and the road at St Nicholas Park and Ash Park, which he described as being “in bits” with part of Mill Street in a state of collapse.
He pointed out that those roads were never designed for 40ft. HGV lorries.
“The residents (in these areas) tolerated a lot of traffic. Those roads need to be resurfaced and no excuses from the Department (of Transport),” he declared.