This article is from page 13 of the 2006-07-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
THE laying of a pipe for a private housing development in Ennistymon caused traffic chaos leading in and out of the north Clare town over the weekend.
Attempts by Ennistymon Gardai to relieve the traffic congestion in sweltering temperatures were frustrated after Clare County Council informed Gardai that they did not have a key to switch off the mobile traffic lights that were dictating traffic flows.
According to Ennistymon Gardai, the traffic jam leading into Ennistymon from the Ennis side on Saturday and Sunday “went on for miles” on the Ennis side with motorists experiencing delays of over a half an hour.
On Sunday evening, the traffic tailback leading into Ennistymon from Lahinch went as far back as the famine memorial half way to the seaside resort.
Traffic was reduced to single lane on the Ennis approach to Ennistymon to facilitate the laying of a sewer and water pipe to serve a 37-unit development currently under construction.
A spokesman at Ennistymon Garda Station said that the council was also unable to facilitate the detouring of traffic around the town at the weekend to avoid the traffic delays.
“The delays were up to a half an hour long and it was a bit more than people could take, especially if they had young children in the car,” he said.
The pipe-laying has been going on for the past four weeks after developer Seamus Carroll secured a road opening licence from Clare County Council.
Speaking to The Clare People , Mr Carroll admitted that the works were “very disruptive”, but added, “It has to be done and the upgrading of the sewage system will benefit the wider area.”