Drivers braced for tailback as bridge forces road closure

And the contract will include heavy penalties for over-runs, as well as a bonus system for beating targets. However city officials have ruled out carrying out work 24 hours per day … because it would disturb a female otter living nearby!

Following a discussion lasting more than two hours last evening, councillors approved the ‘preferred’ of six options, which involves the complete closure of the road under the railway bridge to allow for the lowering of the road.

Director of Services for Transport and Infrastructure, Billy Dunne, told the meeting last evening that the relocation of underground of services – including gas, broadband and two watermains – would account for the majority of the works.

He explained that since 2008, the bridge has been struck a total of eight times by Heavy Goods Vehicles, Most recently, the road had to be closed for four days while repairs were carried out.

The approved plan will see the full closure of Lough Atalia Road with Fairgreen Road, to the Texaco filling station.

“A one-way circulatory system involving College Road, Lough Atalia Road and Fairgreen Road would also be implemented. Lough Atalia Road would become one-way inbound for both lanes. Both lanes on Fairgreen road would become one way from Lough Atalia to Forster Street, and both lanes on College Road would become one-way outbound. This would allow the traffic signals at the three junctions to potentially be switched off,” the proposal reads.

City Manager Brendan McGrath said the decision facing councillors was very difficult, but that the work needed to be done.

He said the works would cost in the region of €750,000, and there is a “very high likelihood” of getting the funding from Government if the project was “shovel ready”.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.