Major works and new junction planned in centre of Offaly town

Major works planned in Edenderry have received the thumbs up from a local councillor.

At the recent monthly Edenderry MD meeting several works outlined by Engineer Mark Mahon were welcomed by Cllr Noel Cribbin who has been raising them for some time now.

These include the new design at junction at Donoghue’s Pub and Fr Paul Murphy Street, this unusual junction has caused much confusion over the years with rights of way etc, the new lay out will also curtail trucks from exiting on to Murphy Street 

Also included in the plan is the upgrading of the Grand Canal walkway.

“I raised this issue recently at a county Council meeting where a fabulous job of work was carried out the entire length of the Grand Canal to Shannon Harbour but had stopped at the last mile from the Downshire Bridge into the harbour in Edenderry, I also raised the persistent problem to many walkers of some youths on scramblers on the canal walkway even though cars and scramblers / motorbikes are banned from the walkway. Delighted to see all my concerns are to be dealt with with a complete upgrade of the walkway to tarmac finish to also include the car parking spaces and the erection of new timber gates and fencing to prohibit cars and scramblers to enter onto the walkway,” said Cllr Cribbin.

The Fine Gael man said he raised the issue of the new recently installed cycle ways and in particular the lane at Killane where the council have installed safely barriers which are causing more trouble for cyclists and residents.

He said that only recently a member of the local cycling club got a bad fall because of wet leaves that cannot be swept because of the new green barriers,

“I called for them to be removed as there not only a hindrance but also an eye sore as there covered in mud and grime. Whilst the idea of them has good intentions, in reality they are a hindrance to all.”

Works has begun on the second phase of the Inner Relief Road and the outdoor crew in the council has fenced of the area where the entrance to the new road will start, the funding for the phase 2 has been secured and the tenders are out for the works to be completed and to be finished by early 2024.

The works on the Tesco roundabout are moving well and it’s hoped all works will be completed there by the end of March.

Said Cllr Cribbin, “There are several major upgrades going on presently and great credit is due to our local Council staff for applying and been successful in getting approval and more importantly the funding for these much needed projects which will make such a positive impact to traffic issues in Edenderry.”.