This article is from page 17 of the 2006-09-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
THE great election giveaway is underway with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern giving the greenlight to two major infrastructural developments for Clare.
With a general election looming, Mr. Ahern announced that the N18 Ennis Bypass would open four months ahead of schedule in December and that the €119 million project would be completed on budget.
During his visit to the county last week, Mr Ahern also announced that the government had given approval to the €57 million Ennis Clarecastle main drainage scheme.
The National Roads Authority estimates that the all-in cost of the Ennis Bypass will be €204.75m inclusive of construction, land acquisition, planning and design costs. The contract also includes a 7km western relief road N85 to the south and west of the town and will consist of 2.5km of new dual carriageway from Killaw to Clareabbey and 4.6km of single carriageway to Claureen. The bypass is expected to remove 14,000 vehicles from the town on the day of opening, rising to 35,000 in 20 years time.
Speaking in Clare Mr Ahern said, “The Ennis Bypass is an integral part of our ambitious Transport 21 blueprint and, in particular, the Atlantic Road Corridor. Its completion ahead of time and on budget marks the end of yet another one of the country’s notorious traffic blackspots. At peak times, I expect the Ennis Bypass to cut 30 minutes off journey times for people travelling on the N18.”
Ennis Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the announcement but say that a route linking the Quin Road and the bypass must be put in place.
CEO Rita McInerney said, “We have campaigned for a long while to get a link from the Quin road. There is a lot of good development going on out there and the area is a real asset to the town. A link road must be provided in some shape or form. We don’t want the town to be bypassed from a commercial point of view.”
The Chamber also want further consultation on the issue of signage in order to better promote Ennis.
Announcing the approval of the Ennis Clarecastle main drainage scheme, Mr Ahern said it reflected the government’s commitment to infrastructural development in Clare.
“When complete, it will provide sewerage facilities that will cater for continuing residential, commercial and tourism development in Ennis and Clarecastle.”
Ennis Chamber of Commerce also stated the scheme would boost commercial development in and around Ennis.
Councillor Joe Carey (FG) welcomed the news but claimed the delay cost the taxpayers millions.
“I am calling on the Minister of the Environment to avoid any further delay in approving the next step of the project which is assessment of the detailed design and contract documents so that this essential project can move to tender and construction phases as soon as possible.”