Survey needed to count Thurles traffic, more funding needed for roads - Municipal District

Cllr Sean Ryan said they needed to stress funding for roads, at the April meeting of Thurles Templemore Municipal District.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my lifetime. We had a very prolonged winter and serious damage to roads.” The Gortnahoe to Kilcooley road is particularly bad.

District Engineer Mr John Jones said they have patching units working in the area “all the time.” “It’s been very very difficult” with the weather, but motorists should see a “vast improvement in the coming months” regarding road resurfacing, added Mr Jones.

Knox's Wood traffic

Cllr John Hogan said the traffic at Knox’s Wood in Thurles is “phenomenal” and a traffic count needs to be done there. The roads are only the width of a car and really needs to be widened. The only bit that can’t be widened is at the bridge. “We need to do something with that bypass. The first thing we need is a traffic count to establish how many people are using it.”

Also, while the road and footpath works at Ard Mhuire, Templetuohy, are to be welcomed, the Council should “look at the smaller estates, and try to do them every 10 to 20 years.”

Cllr Hogan also asked what criteria are used in relation to the Local Improvement Schemes (LIS) concerning upgrading laneways and non-public rural roads. “What criteria are used? How are they scored? Which laneways and in what order? Because I want it to back to the way it was.”

M8 Motorway

Cllr Jim Ryan called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to construct a merging road off the Two Mile Borris motorway junction to allow cars going to Cork to join the M8 at this point rather than having to travel to the Horse and Jockey to do so.” Management responded: “With the permission of the members, the Notice of Motion will be referred to the Roads Section for consideration and recommendation.”

Road Markings

Cllr Sean Ryan called on the District to improve the road markings at the junction of New Street and Main Street in Littleton Village and at Corcoran’s corner in Two Mile Borris to make them safer for motorists.” Management responded: “The request will be examined and a decision made in due course.”

Moycarkey Cemetery

Cllr Ryan also called on the District to repair the boundary wall of the Old Cemetery in Moycarkey village which has been damaged for some time.” Management replied that the motion would be referred to the Environment Section who are responsible for repairs pertaining to this burial ground.