Extensive traffic calming works get go-ahead in Tullamore

AN extensive series of traffic calming works have been given the go-ahead for a busy area in Tullamore.

The works will probably start during the first quarter of 2025 and will include the Clara Road / Clontarf Road Street Junction, the O'Molloy Street Junction, and Kilbride Street Junction.

Councillors welcomed the roadworks during a recent meeting of Offaly County Council and said they were glad the works wouldn't be proceeding during the Christmas period because it would impact on local businesses.

A member of the Council Executive told the Councillors that no submissions had been received from members of the public during the planning stage of the project.

Cllr Seán O'Brien remarked that he has been looking forward to these works for a long time.

“I raised this matter a few years ago,” he said. “There are a lot of people living there. It's a very busy area with traffic and pedestrians. The new greenway will be crossing there as well. Bearing all of that in mind, these new works will be great for pedestrians, cyclists and runners.”

Cllr Aoife Masterson warmly welcomed the work.

“It's great to see such joined up thinking,” she commented, “and it will be fantastic to see people living in that area benefiting from this. We need to ensure that the lighting will be adequate there as well.”

Cllr Tony McCormack commented that it will be “a fantastic piece of new infrastructure, benefiting safety and tourism; and tying in with the greenway.”

The council executive said the traffic calming works will “create a safer route and healthier environment for all road users with a strong emphasis on reduction in speeds, the creation of safe crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists, the provision of safe connectivity for the new Urban Greenway to cross from Kilbride Street to the Grand Canal Greenway to the west, and the creation of a more attractive urban environment / landscape.”

The executive said the works will “generally encourage / facilitate in the medium to long term a modal shift from private car use to more sustainable active travel options such as walking, bus transport and cycling, and active travel options.

“In general the works will consist of road narrowing to provide a 'Gateway Effect' for natural calming, the installation and the upgrade of existing footpaths, new footpath construction along with new kerbing, the construction of new raised and controlled pedestrian crossing points with raised tables, build outs, new road markings and upgraded road signage, service diversions, new surface water / drainage works, public lighting upgrades and diversion of existing services, landscaping works, ancillary works, and if required road surfacing works.

“The works will also allow for the widening of existing footpaths to create a pedestrian priority zone, the installation of measures to restrict vehicular access to Kilbride Lane, and the construction of a new raised table to allow for a safe crossing area from Kilbride Lane to the Grand Canal at the junction of Pearse Park / Cox's / Clara Bridge.”

There will be two new pedestrian crossings at Kilbride Street, one of them about 100 metres east of Cox's Bridge (Clara Bridge).

The existing layout of the Clara Road / Clontarf junction will be remodelled, incorporating the installation of new raised and controlled pedestrian crossings. A new raised table will be constructed to allow for a safer crossing area from Kilbride Lane to the Grand Canal at the junction of Pearse Park / Cox's Bridge.

The Council said there's “an appreciation that urban roads and streets are much more than traffic corridors. They should be places where people want to live and spend time.

The key is to improve street design for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, and to reduce the impact of vehicles on residential streets. It is a policy of the council to encourage people to walk and cycle on our streets by designing streets and public spaces with safe walking and cycling routes. We are committed to creating a healthier environment for all road users with a strong emphasis on reduction in speeds, and the creation of safe crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.”