Tipperary Council says contractor appointed for upgrade of section of N24 at Cahir

A project to upgrade a section of the N24 at Cahir has moved a significant step closer to getting started, Tipperary County Council’s October meeting heard.

Council Senior Roads Engineer John Nolan informed councillors the local authority has secured permission to sign the contract for the Knockagh Roundabout Pavement Scheme. Since the meeting, the Council has appointed a contractor.

This road improvement project will upgrade approximately 1.16km of the N24 east from Knockagh Roundabout towards Clonmel in the townlands of Knockagh, Knockmorris and Rathmore.

The works include the replacement of the road surface with a new surface, the installation of footpaths, cycleways, drainage, utilities, fencing, safety barriers, signs and lines.

Part 8 planning approval for the project was secured in July last year. Following the submission of tenders for the contract, Transport Infrastructure Ireland approved the awarding of the contract in mid-September.

Mr Nolan said getting the project underway depends on how quickly the contractor can wrap up other projects between now and the end of the year. Work is expected to start on the project early in the new year.

Meanwhile, Clonmel Cllr Siobhán Ambrose complained at the Council meeting that a lot of councillors will be retired before the long delayed upgrade of the N24 between Moangarriff and Two-Mile-Bridge in the Clonmel area will be carried out.

She requested an update on the time-line for this project. Cllr Pat English agreed the Moangarriff scheme seemed to be “going on forever”.

Mr Nolan responded that he understood councillors’ frustration and assured them the Council wanted to keep the project on the programme of works and progress it.

He explained it was less a priority than previously because of safety improvements carried out on this stretch of road.

“The reality is that the job done there a few years ago took care of the immediate safety concerns, which was the parking of heavy goods vehicles all over the place,” he explained.