‘How many more deaths in Thurles is it going to take?’

They have been talking about a bypass in Thurles since 1958 but “we still haven’t got any further with it,” the Tipperary County Council Meeting heard on Monday last.

Councillor Jim Ryan said it was really depressing that the issue of user safety on Tipperary roads is still a huge problem and he called on the TD’s representing the county to step up to the mark: 

“We cannot sit back any more in Thurles. We had a tragic death once again in Liberty Square recently and my condolences to the family and also the driver of the lorry. 

“That is the fourth death in Thurles town centre from articulated lorries knocking down a pedestrian over the years. 

“Four deaths. Could I ask anybody or does anybody know any other town, city or village that has four deaths in its town centre, by articulated lorries, that does not have a bypass? 

“I guarantee the answer will be no. How many more deaths is it going to take?

“For the bypass project to not be moved on, it is just unacceptable. It is disgraceful. There can be no more excuses. The town is chock-a-block. It is choked up with articulated lorries.

“We cannot take any more. An Inner Relief road is just a consolation for what is really needed, which is a bypass for Thurles.”

Cllr Ryan added that he believed it was “a political decision whether Thurles gets a bypass and I think that it is now time that our five TDs, particularly the two from Thurles, stepped up to the mark and ensured that Thurles gets the funding and is included in the National Development Plan and an amendment be made to the National Development Plan to include Thurles in the project otherwise none of us sitting here today will ever see a bypass for Thurles. 

“We will be long gone when it does happen unless the amendment is made in the National Development Plan and that can only be made by politicians and TDs,” Cllr Ryan said. 

His hope is that no more people are killed while they are walking around Thurles but feared that unless change occurs, more will die.

“The new link road, while it is welcome, is not going to take away articulated lorries coming in that want to go from the Horse and Jockey into Thurles, out the Templemore road and out the Nenagh road. 

“I hope in my lifetime there will be no more deaths of pedestrians in Thurles town centre from articulated lorries, but unless our TDs and our ministers step up to the mark, there will - in my opinion - be more deaths.”

He went on to point out that he had a motion down for the next district meeting seeking a meeting with the Minister of Transport and he asked the CEO that as much pressure as possible be put on the Minister to have that meeting. 

He said that the Tipperary Town bypass meeting with the Minister was successful previously and pointed out that it overtook the Thurles project in terms of focus.

Councillor Annemarie Ryan spoke too on the matter saying that “these are basic infrastructure things that towns like Tipperary and Thurles need. They are crucial for the survival of the towns and for the safety of their communities. I completely support Jim Ryan as it is very difficult when a town you live in is completely clogged with traffic constantly.”

Councillor Seamus Hanifan said it was important to get the shovel ready now and said the Inner Relief road would go a long way to relieving current traffic congestion in Thurles:

“It would give us a river crossing and move some of the traffic off Liberty Square but I suppose the bigger issue in Thurles is the lack of a bypass and we have been talking about a bypass for Thurles since I was a child. 

“We have two National Secondary roads that intersect at the top of Liberty Square and we are no closer to delivering a bypass now than we were ten years ago. No closer,” he stressed.

 He went on to say how they meet with the TII every year and that they do stress the importance of it to the TII but said they are making “zero” progress.

“We are going to have to do something different. It cannot be just a political decision because you have two Secondary roads meeting at the top of Liberty Square in Thurles on roads that are not suitable for the volume of traffic. 

“Whatever we do I think it is vitally important we get this back on the agenda” he said. 

Councillor Micheal Lowry was also in agreement in relation to the bypass. Regarding the Inner Relief road he said that “my understanding is that in the last week significant progress has been made on the land acquisition for the Inner Relief road”.

“There is an agreement to move forward and negotiate for four and a half acres. What I am saying to you here today is to look for a commitment that those negotiations will be concluded as quickly as possible.

“This has been dragging on now,” he said before adding that “as far as I’m aware the title to the land in question has been resolved and it can proceed”.

Councillor Peggy Ryan added that: “the roads locally are overburdened with traffic. Regarding the Inner Relief road it is the key to progress in the town. It is a tangible realistic goal and it addresses pressing environmental concerns. Overall Thurles needs this investment now.

“I recognise the desire for the bypass and getting support for it as part of the National Development Plan is key but we all know a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush so let’s get going with the Inner Relief road now.”

The council responsed by saying that they are meeting the Department Inspector and hope to make progress soon regarding Liberty Square.