Traffic tailbacks in Tipperary Town due to road works causing 'frustration and disruption'

A traffic management system in place in Tipperary Town due to a road works project is causing significant traffic tailbacks and disruption in parts of the town and a local councillor has appealed to Tipperary County Council to take action to reduce the congestion.

Sinn Féin Cllr Annemarie Ryan issued the appeal at the Council’s March meeting in Nenagh on Monday where she highlighted the traffic tailbacks on the Knockanrawley Road and N24 caused by a new traffic management system in place to facilitate the latest phase of the N74 Fr Mathew Street Road Improvement Scheme.

Council management responded that measures are being introduced this week to alleviate the traffic congestion.

She told the meeting the latest phase of the road project was to take about four weeks and she had requested the contractor to introduce measures to mitigate the impact on motorists.

She told Council management that the Knockanrawley Road where traffic was being diverted has five housing estates.

She pointed out Transport Infrastructure Ireland statistics showed that more than 80,000 vehicles a week travelled on the Knockanrawley Road and N24 in Tipperary Town.

“The traffic management plan is causing great frustration and disruption to the local community.

“I have asked for the coordinator to make changes. These new configurations are making it impossible to access major parts of Tipperary Town.

“The last week has tried the patience of thousands of people.”

Cllr Ryan said navigating these roads at school and work commute times was particularly difficult at the moment.

She recounted that she was travelling to the Council meeting that morning, she and other motorists were held up in Tipperary as road contract workers moved plant machinery.

She suggested the contractor hold off on movement of such vehicles during the rush hour when people are going to work and school.

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Council Senior Roads Engineer John Nolan responded that the traffic on the N74 and N24 in Tipperary Town was of particular concern at the moment.

He acknowledged some significant traffic delays have been caused by the road works project, particularly last Friday afternoon.

He said the Council has identified a number of measures to bring in this week to tackle the problem and they will come into effect over the week.

The aim was to have the traffic congestion cleared for the St Patrick’s weekend, Mr Nolan added.