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Killaloe bypass, Shannon crossing & R494 Birdhill-Killaloe

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,315 ✭✭✭Pete_Cavan


    I suggested a trial pedestrianisation and measuring the effects as part of a decision making process. When you say "If I and others cease using the old bridge because we find it advantageous, then at some point in the future we would support full closure of the old bridge to traffic", it suggests our opinions are not all that different, despite the aggressive tone of your post.

    You ranting about "self appointed experts living elsewhere, even if you think the local need to be told because they are banjo playing hillbillies who don't know what's best for them" is pretty funny given you constantly insisting that Ireland built nuclear power plants. Pedestrianisation of an old bridge which wasn't intended to carry motor vehicles after opening an alternative modern bridge is pretty tame in comparison to what you would impose on some people.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 250 ✭✭Stephenc66


    There were two reasons that there were lights installed on the bridge. Both because of much increased vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic as the towns grew.

    Heavy vehicles causing a blockage when meeting another vehicle.

    Danger to pedestrians with more than a few being clipped or rubbed by cars during very busy periods. A real accident waiting to happen.

    It is grossly unfair to compare what we used to be able to do in the past with what we could do now.

    My opinion and it’s just that an opinion and we are all entitled to one, and as If it really matters, I am local and have been driving across the bridge for 41yrs and cycling it before that.

    The reports say that the new bridge will alleviate 40% of the traffic moving within the two towns.

    This leaves 60% generated from within both towns themselves.

    Killaloe is already seeing the benefits of the bypass with regards to traffic moving internally in the town and the opening of the new bridge will greatly improve on this again.

    The Ballina side will see these benefits once the new bridge opens.

    I do believe though that in real everyday terms traffic from the Portroe side of Ballina will see an improvement but not see as big a benefit as the rest of the town will get.

    For an hour in the morning and maybe the evening school traffic using the old bridge will still bottle neck at the mini roundabout because of the lights on the bridge. The other commuters from that side of town (heading to the new bridge or the Nenagh Birdhil direction) will be caught up in the traffic losing any advantage the new bridge might give. Someone commuting that route will have a much better idea than me, say summertime verses school term.

    For anyone approaching the mini roundabout from the Birdhill to Portroe side there should be a great improvement as the Clare traffic will already be gone over the new bridge and they hopefully will have a clear run.

    Having said that and speaking only for myself I would like to see the old bridge remain open. With weight limited traffic a proper width footpath and an appropriate speed limit with cyclists off the footpath in the flow of traffic, as they are on the approach to and from the bridge on either side.

    Maybe I am being selfish as I am Killaloe and 99% of my traffic problems will be sorted once the new bridge is open. Or maybe as another poster has said I might just be one of those people who doesn’t like change.

    I believe that to a small extent commercially and to a larger extent from a cultural and historical perspective. It will create an artificial divide between the two towns if the bridge is pedestrianised

    There is also the overwhelming consensus anecdotally that the majority of locals want to keep the bridge open as is, and the majority must be respected.

    Closing the bridge immediately will not give a chance to see how it might work in real terms. It should also stay open for a school term and a summer to give a proper picture. It can be revisited if there is not a significant improvement.

    It will also allow for the other changes particularly car parking to happen all of which need to happen before pedestrianisation happens if at all.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,016 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    The bridge remains open to cars and local traffic only , with the traffic lights remaining, and if necessary speed calming .. is likely to keep the 2 towns connected commercially ,

    I'd have no problem saying that pedestrian and cycling facilities on the bridge and its approaches should be prioritised..

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,810 ✭✭✭dennyk


    Took a closer look at one of those posters today, and it's ironic that they've decided to use a photo of the bridge which contains no cars whatsoever. Maybe we're all wrong and they're actually campaigning for pedestrianisation after all? 😄



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,572 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    It says 'keep', which in this context only has one logical meaning, since there is only talk of closing the bridge to vehicular traffic. 'Keep cars off our bridge' is not what it says.

    If the poster maker was intending to promote pedestrianisation, they failed. :-)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,810 ✭✭✭dennyk


    I was just taking the piss, but if the pedestrianisation does go ahead, we can just point out that they got exactly the bridge they demanded in all their posters; one with no cars! 😝



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭Field east


    It’s not the locals that should have the major/ final say in how the old bridge should be used . Take the following scenario - if half the users are local and other half of the users are ‘outsiders/blowins eg they could be living an average of 10 miles away and drive over the bridge going to and from work, drive over the bridge to go socialising, driving kids to and from school, etc, etc, etc. should those people not also have a say in how the bridge might be used?

    The concern has always been there that pedestrians/cyclists/ go carts/ prams were in danger of being hit even with single lane traffic. I assume that the old bridge is wide enough to accommodate traffic going in both directions at the same time if cyclists/pedestrians were removed - and which could be ACCOMMODATED by building a board walk

    Killaloe/Ballina is not any ‘old town’/ ordinary town. It is a tourist town but not in the same league as Clonakilty and suchlike. So the Powers That Be should be mindful of this and a boardwalk , IMO , would contributing to enhancing its tourist potential.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,229 ✭✭✭KrisW1001


    “Pedestrianise” the whole area around the bridge. Despite this, keep the bridge open to cars, but design it so that pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged to use the full available width, and cars must yield to them at all times. Put the whole area around the bridge under a 30 km/h limit. Ban >3.5 tonne vehicles from the area and remove the traffic lights.

    Cars can still cross, but drivers are given no overriding permission by a green light or a special lane, and so they have to take care. Nobody is prevented from driving if they need to, but eventually, those using the bridge solely as a rat-run will migrate to the bypass.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,317 ✭✭✭source


    I don't think that will work and will cause more conflict. I don't think anyone actually goes above 30 crossing that bridge as is. So the reduced speed wouldn't be an issue and should form part of any plan.

    Where I see an issue is the lights will need to be kept in place to avoid cars meeting head on, though having the cars yield to pedestrians will make the crossing times unreliable leading to a possibility that cars will meet head on anyway.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 583 ✭✭✭Exiled Rebel


    I thought all urban areas are having their speed limits reduced from 50 to 30 from next month (as well as certain rural roads (R and some N) going from 80 to 60? Or perhaps its just in select areas. Waterford Co Co confirmed they will implement those changes next month.

    Either way pedestrianisation of the bridge is likely to significantly improve the quality of life of residents.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 863 ✭✭✭pajoguy


    Local roads from 80 to 60. Urban areas are expected to reduced to 30 but it wont be a blanket 50 down to 30. This phase is supposed to be in by June/July but will require councillors approval so may take 12 months



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,130 ✭✭✭Former Former Former


    That sounds like a really good way to increase the risk of accidents.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,229 ✭✭✭KrisW1001


    Paradoxically, these "shared space" arrangements reduce accidents. Car drivers can't assume they've automatic right of way, so they get far more careful.

    The number of cars using this bridge should be tiny compared with now.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,290 ✭✭✭Deedsie


    Any updates on the new bridge?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,572 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    Just went past: It's fogged in, people are working on it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,341 ✭✭✭pigtown


    Apparently they're ahead of schedule. No idea how far ahead though



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 12,675 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    Well the plan mentioned a few months back was the Killaloe bypass opened by end '24 (done), the bridge by end Q1 '25 and then the R494 by mid '25.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,810 ✭✭✭dennyk


    The R494 looks basically complete from Birdhill all the way past Larkin's, aside from a few bits of the shared path that still need some finishing work, and even the roundabout at Roolough is pretty much done. Odd that the last little stretch is going to take so long.

    Also, looks like Google Maps have updated their aerial views about the time they had the R496 closed to build the roundabout, though they still haven't added the bypass to their map layer yet.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,110 ✭✭✭Chris_5339762


    Will the new R494 be subject to the 60kmh speed limit due to be brought in on all R roads?



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  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,613 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    60km/h is to be brought in on L roads. R roads to remain 80km/h



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,797 ✭✭✭yankinlk


    Well i guess the past few days proved its still a two lane bridge and the lights arent needed 😭 😭 😭



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,820 ✭✭✭Hibernicis


    New video from Dronehawk showing the upgraded R494 and the new bridge, both looking close to completion.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,016 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    It was a two way bridge before it got traffic lights , and once no one tries to push it across the bridge , and there isn't a glut of pedestrians -and tourists ,then it'll be fine ,

    The last few days hasn't been tourist season , and probably not many big tractors either .. 😁 ,

    But I don't see a problem either it being q way for light traffic , or on the traffic lights , again for light traffic

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,798 ✭✭✭ollaetta


    I still can't get over how good and stylish the bridge looks. Where is the standard mass concrete lump that seems to be the norm everywhere else nowadays? It's a credit to whoever designed it and the powers that be that agreed to run with it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,820 ✭✭✭Hibernicis


    Agree 100% about the quality of the design. It is elegant, classical and also pays homage to the 17th/18th century bridge. I posted about the design previously in this thread, post #173:

    The bridge was designed by Kit Powell-Williams who sadly passed away in September 2024. Though born in England he has a substantial body of work in Ireland. An appreciation of his life and work by his wife appears in today’s Irish Times.

    https://www.irishtimes.com/obituaries/2024/10/20/kit-powell-williams-prize-winning-bridge-architect-who-made-his-mark-in-the-uk-ireland-and-beyond/

    I really hope that the bridge receives an award for the quality of the design work. It's a really welcome change from the bland lumps we have grown used to.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78 ✭✭goingmadted


    I really hope the old bridge will be closed, only for pedestrians and cyclists. Would be a great addition to the area.

    All this nonsense about keeping the two towns connected. First world problems eh.

    It will literally be a 1 minute journey when you cross the new bridge to get to all the shops/businesses.

    It boils my piss when there is uproar about these type of things.

    The pubs and resturants were in uproar when the smoking ban came in but it all worked out fine didnt it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,572 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    I was in the village today, seemingly every second shop has a keep the bridge open poster displayed. I think we have been over this ground before.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭gladerunner


     

    Another local here who is very much in favour of taking the cars off the bridge and allowing for freedom of movement for walkers and bikes.

    Why must we always cater for cars, even less cars means the same in terms of safety on the roads etc.

    So the very few cars that refuse to use the new shiny bridge should be allowed negatively impact a great initiative.

    I have a few narrow escapes when my lads were younger, especially around the library entrance.

    Its such a shame that this is tarnishing the re-opening, people have no imaginations at all.

    There is a local wanna be councillor too who is acting like this will being the plague to the villages



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,797 ✭✭✭yankinlk


    Allow a retort. My local cafe



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,810 ✭✭✭dennyk


    Ah now, I'm sure Bless will survive even if their customers have to spend an extra three minutes driving across the new bridge when they're heading to SuperValu…



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 268 ✭✭17togo


    The easiest solution to prevent a civil war would be to make it pedestrianised at certain times?! Maybe 10am to 8pm it's pedestrian only?



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