Killaloe bypass, Shannon crossing & R494 Birdhill-Killaloe

Amtmann · 29-07-2011 9:15pm #1

Interesting piece in today's IT:

PLANS FOR a €41 million bridge and bypass of Killaloe have received a major boost.

This follows Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar giving the go-ahead to Clare County Council to publish statutory orders seeking approval from An Bord Pleanála for the two projects – the Shannon bridge crossing and Killaloe bypass.

For many years, there have been traffic snarl ups on the 18th-century bridge that connects Killaloe and Ballina on the Shannon.

Only 4.8 metres in width in places (Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge is 3.8 metres wide), the 13-arch bridge is the main crossing point on the Shannon between the Co Galway town of Portumna and Limerick city.

Built to accommodate the horse and cart, the bridge is now being used by commercial traffic as a way of accessing Dublin or the west coast without having to go through Limerick.

The Clare and north Tipperary councils have installed traffic lights to regulate traffic on the bridge. The new bridge is planned for one kilometre downstream of Killaloe.

The estimated cost of the project is €41 million and can be split into three phases. They are the Killaloe bypass (€11.93 million), the Shannon bridge crossing (€12 million) and the works on the regional R494 road (€16.6 million). The protected status of the Killaloe bridge has ruled out any upgrading works as they would be contrary to the development plans for Clare and North Tipperary.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0729/1224301563953.html

corktina · 30-07-2011 3:24pm

I have used that route in a commercial to avoid Limerick but surely noone would do so now with the tunnel open. Having said that, Killaloe is a gem and to lessen the traffic passing through a place with such tourist potential can only be a good idea.

dubhthach · 30-07-2011 11:51pm

He's only giving approval for them to go ahead with the planning process though right? In which case the thing can be long fingered for several years especially if a 10 year PP is granted.

washman3 · 30-07-2011 11:59pm

badly needed. a very serious bottleneck. now hope that the pencil pushers in an bord pleanala get the finger out.;)
€41 million, small cash when you think of what Seanie Fitz stole....

Jayuu · 01-08-2011 12:39pm

I think we'll probably see a lot more of these small little projects over the next few years.

Its not the ideal way to improve the road network but I suppose if we get a few more bottlenecks out of the system then it can only be a good thing. Hope any of these projects on major route will have some sort of future proofing built in so that they can be included in futher upgrades.

Amtmann · 01-08-2011 12:46pm

washman3 wrote: »

€41 million, small cash when you think of what Seanie Fitz stole....

...or the e-voting machines.

source · 02-08-2011 5:17pm

As someone who lived in Ballina for 5 years or so, This is more than needed. I can't count the amount of times I've been stuck in tail backs as far back as Larkins Garage, trying to get home.

corktina · 03-08-2011 10:04am

yes that bridge is impossible, and impassible for that matter, at times. the traffic backs up on to the bridge at times usually due to someones selfishness or light jumpers, meaning noone can move. Frustrating in the extreme

Delirium · 03-08-2011 10:09am

and don't forget the large number of people that don't seem to understand there is a roundabout on the ballina side.

Leonard Hofstadter · 13-05-2013 11:41pm

Sorry to resurrect a thread that's nearly two years old, but that (we'll be polite) gobdaw Sweetman is at it again, complaining about a few swans and otters, and that sort of thing.

It is right and proper that people are able to hold the state to account (especially given the incompetence of successive Governments, FF led ones in particular), but seriously, one man has WAY too much influence in trying to stop every God damn road being built:mad:!

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/permission-for-killaloe-bypass-challenged-1.1392205

Irish and Proud · 14-05-2013 12:15am

captainspeed wrote: »

Sorry to resurrect a thread that's nearly two years old, but that (we'll be polite) gobdaw Sweetman is at it again, complaining about a few swans and otters, and that sort of thing.

It is right and proper that people are able to hold the state to account (especially given the incompetence of successive Governments, FF led ones in particular), but seriously, one man has WAY too much influence in trying to stop every God damn road being built:mad:!

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/permission-for-killaloe-bypass-challenged-1.1392205

Our constitution is dysfunctional in so many ways... :mad:

Victor · 14-05-2013 8:21am

captainspeed wrote: »

gobdaw

Insults not welcome

Moderator

topper75 · 16-05-2013 3:53pm

captainspeed wrote: »

Sorry to resurrect a thread that's nearly two years old, but that (we'll be polite) gobdaw Sweetman is at it again, complaining about a few swans and otters, and that sort of thing.

It is right and proper that people are able to hold the state to account (especially given the incompetence of successive Governments, FF led ones in particular), but seriously, one man has WAY too much influence in trying to stop every God damn road being built:mad:!

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/permission-for-killaloe-bypass-challenged-1.1392205

Started thread on this in Clare forum. Was shut down after mention of libel possibility so I won't make any comment on the individual who has lodged the objection. I totally echo your point that one man should not have such influence when such numbers of people are inconvenienced by the present infrastructure, and if that is libelous, I'll happily dust down the good suit and let my boss know I need a day off for court.

source · 16-05-2013 3:57pm

topper75 wrote: »

Started thread on this in Clare forum. Was shut down after mention of libel possibility so I won't make any comment on the individual who has lodged the objection. I totally echo your point that one man should not have such influence when such numbers of people are inconvenienced by the present infrastructure, and if that is libelous, I'll happily dust down the good suit and let my boss know I need a day off for court.

The biggest issue is safety, the current bridge cannot handle the volumes of vehicles or pedestrians using it.

Serial objectors like this just need to go away, are we really going to put a few animals who are not exactly unique to the area ahead of the safety of the people that live there?

Alun · 16-05-2013 4:15pm

What I'd like to know is where he gets his funding from to bring these cases to the High Court. Can't be cheap.

topper75 · 16-05-2013 5:14pm

source wrote: »

...a few animals who are not exactly unique to the area ahead of the safety of the people that live there?

What I don't get is that all of the threats, along with mitigating factors and precautions to address them, are dealt with in the impact statement. Anyone who is interested can look at this PDF on the Clare Co. Co. website.

http://www.clarecoco.ie/roads-and-transport/publications/killaloe-bypass-shannon-bridge-crossing-and-r494-improvement-natura-impact-statement-11299.pdf

Alun wrote: »

What I'd like to know is where he gets his funding from to bring these cases to the High Court. Can't be cheap.

Can't be cheap, but I think he does legal work himself and has powerful legal friends who may do it pro bono. If the cause were more virtuous, he would be heroic. You can read more about him in this interview he gave himself -
http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/paperstoday/index.php?action=view&id=15293

Deedsie · 27-08-2014 12:16pm

Any word on this project ever happening?

Deedsie · 29-09-2015 2:32pm

http://www.dttas.ie/press-releases/2015/minister-donohoe-confirms-€10bn-investment-our-transport-future

A number of other schemes, also targeting bottlenecks in the road network, will be progressed subject to planning. Examples here include the Shannon Crossing Bridge at Killaloe, Galway By-Pass, Mallow Relief Road, Adare By-Pass, Slane By-Pass, N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy road, N69 Shannon to Foynes road, Athy Southern Distributor Road, Portlaoise Southern Distributor Road, Phase 4 of Dingle Relief road and Laytown to Bettystown Link road.

First mention I have heard of this scheme in a long time.

Deedsie · 21-02-2016 8:30pm

There was supposed to be a judicial review of this projects planning permission last October. I can't find any results anywhere. Anyone have info on it?

Cookiemunster · 04-05-2016 6:40pm

Deedsie wrote: »

Finally :-)

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/environmentalist-fails-in-high-court-challenge-over-killaloe-bypass-34685377.html

AN environmentalist has failed in a High Court challenge to a decision to grant permission for a 2km bypass around Killaloe in Co Clare.

Excellent. I see the objectors were from North West Galway and Co. Mayo. It really annoys me that people who live nowhere near these schemes put their own opinions above the daily lives of the people living locally.

L1011 · 04-05-2016 7:32pm

The sooner Sweetman gets Wundered the better.

marno21 · 20-01-2017 6:50pm

Shane Ross wrote:

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

The Shannon Bridge Crossing at Killaloe is one of a number of schemes included in the Capital Plan 2016-2021 designed to address bottlenecks on the road network. The bridge is the 1st phase of the Killaloe Bypass/R494 upgrade scheme. In planning the construction schedule for individual projects included in the Plan, account has to be taken of the annual budgets in the Capital Plan and the need to phase projects to manage the available budgets.

Following the conclusion of the judicial review relating to the Killaloe Bypass/R494 scheme, it is now a matter for the local authority (Clare County Council) to progress the scheme, including agreeing the project cost and timeline with my Department.

Nothing really new.

Limerick74 · 24-01-2017 5:02pm

http://www.dttas.ie/press-releases/2017/minister-ross-announces-%E2%82%AC324-million-regional-and-local-roads

marno21 · 27-11-2017 8:02pm

Shane Ross wrote:

Following the conclusion of the judicial review relating to the Shannon crossing/Killaloe Bypass/R494 scheme, it is now a matter for the local authority (Clare County Council) to progress the scheme. Clare County Council has been provided with an allocation of €500,000 in 2017.

While a construction timetable has not been decided as yet, my Department will be liaising with Clare County Council in relation to the timing of the construction phases for the Shannon Crossing Section (Phase 1) and the Killaloe Bypass/R494 sections (Phase 2) of the overall scheme.

Latest on this scheme.

road_high · 27-11-2017 10:03pm

marno21 wrote: »

Latest on this scheme.

Hardly happen for years- where would the Co Councils get the funding?

Cookiemunster · 27-11-2017 10:14pm

road_high wrote: »

Hardly happen for years- where would the Co Councils get the funding?

Clare CC will build it, but it will be funded by the exchequer.

pajoguy · 27-11-2017 10:33pm

CPO negotiations should be finalised soon id imagine. Think they started 12 months ago or maybe a bit less. It has been costed at 41 million. Not an insignificant sum of money but would ge a huge benefit to east clare.

jacksie66 · 28-11-2017 6:46pm

This post has been deleted.

pajoguy · 16-01-2018 12:05pm

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/291836/killaloe-bypass-boost-as-funding-is-inked.html

marno21 · 02-03-2018 12:26am

White smoke.

Shane Ross wrote:

The Shannon Bridge Crossing at Killaloe is one element of the overall Shannon Crossing/Killaloe Bypass/R494 upgrade scheme. Following the Capital Plan Review, it is the intention that the Shannon crossing will progress together with the Killaloe bypass and R494 Upgrade as a single scheme. Clare County Council is responsible for implementation of the scheme, including the construction programme.

I understand that Clare County Council is in the process of appointing engineering consultants to carry out detailed design and progress the appointment of a contractor. While the programme is dependent on Clare County Council, it is likely a contractor could be appointed and construction commence in 2019. While the sequencing of the works is a matter for Clare County Council, the Shannon crossing element is likely to take approximately 18 months to construct with the full project taking approximately 36 months from the start of construction thereby giving a projected completion date in 2022. While the scheme will be subject to competitive tendering the overall budget is in the region of €49 million.

Kevwoody · 03-03-2018 6:05pm

Why is â‚¬49 million being spent on a regional road in rural Clare when other more important schemes are crying out for funding?

marno21 · 03-03-2018 7:13pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

Why is â‚¬49 million being spent on a regional road in rural Clare when other more important schemes are crying out for funding?

A significant amount of funding in both the old Capital Plan and the new one is allocated to regional and local roads, and rightly so as the relative cost is lower but they are quite important for their location. Some of these were reinforced in the LIHAF funding for opening up lands for housing developments.

The €49m here is for 3 projects, a bypass of Killaloe on the busy R463, a new crossing of the River Shannon to complement the existing medival structure that's traffic light controlled and an upgrade of the extremely deficient R494 between Ballina and the M7 near Birdhill.

Can I ask where you think the €49m is better spent? All national road projects with planning permission are fully funded up until 2021, so there are no national road projects getting shelved for it.

Kevwoody · 03-03-2018 9:55pm

Ok.
Letterkenny town is absolutely gridlocked 7 days a week. There is one bridge into and out of the town to the south and east of the county.
I know youll say the various N14/15/56 schemes are in planning, but their still almost 10 years away.
As someone who is from Letterkenny but works in the south of Ireland, the difference in infrastructure is astounding. Donegal and Letterkenny in particular have been getting the thin end of the wedge for years. Granted, the few N56 schemes and the Kiltoy roundabout have helped, but we're still years behind the rest of the Republic.

marno21 · 03-03-2018 11:14pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

Ok.
Letterkenny town is absolutely gridlocked 7 days a week. There is one bridge into and out of the town to the south and east of the county.
I know youll say the various N14/15/56 schemes are in planning, but their still almost 10 years away.
As someone who is from Letterkenny but works in the south of Ireland, the difference in infrastructure is astounding. Donegal and Letterkenny in particular have been getting the thin end of the wedge for years. Granted, the few N56 schemes and the Kiltoy roundabout have helped, but we're still years behind the rest of the Republic.

I agree with what you're saying, I am extremely frustrated at the speed at which planning of national road schemes are being progressed. The three schemes in Donegal (N13/N14/N15) are all planned to be submitted to ABP in mid 2020. That's 4 and a half years to even get a planning submission done. That could be done in 2 years if the will and resources, both financial and personnel, were there.

The Killaloe scheme should be fully implemented by the end of 2021. By then, we are looking at the three Donegal schemes being at CPO stage if we are lucky and the timeline doesn't slip. The Killaloe scheme certainly isn't taking from any others. ALL national road schemes with planning permission are currently active and scheduled for implementation by 2022 or so.

There is approx 7bn allocated in the NBP for national roads and 4.5bn for regional/local roads, meaning that meritorious national road schemes will get done.

73hdkgo · 13-06-2018 1:22pm

Extract from Clare CoCo Chief Executives Report for June 2018 on this project,

"Killaloe Bridge and By-Pass – Work is ongoing in relation to the necessary land acquisitions required. Detailed design is the next phase of work required followed by going to tender in 2019 with construction expected to be completed by late 2022."

Other reports available here https://www.clarecoco.ie/your-council/about-the-council/chief-executive-reports/

73hdkgo · 11-07-2018 10:37am

73hdkgo wrote: »

Extract from Clare CoCo Chief Executives Report for June 2018 on this project,

"Killaloe Bridge and By-Pass – Work is ongoing in relation to the necessary land acquisitions required. Detailed design is the next phase of work required followed by going to tender in 2019 with construction expected to be completed by late 2022."

Other reports available here https://www.clarecoco.ie/your-council/about-the-council/chief-executive-reports/

"Arising from the confirmation of the CPO, the Land acquisition process is ongoing. This will continue in to the New Year but crucially, doesn’t prevent other works from happening in parallel. To this end, we are in the handover process from ROD Consultants who brought the project through the planning and CPO phase to RPS Consultants who will bring it through the detailed design and Tender preparation and Construction stages. We are liaising with the DTTAS Inspector to ensure the project advances at the optimum pace through the various stages remaining."

marno21 · 15-07-2018 11:13pm

Tender for consultancy services awarded to RPS as above.

Expect this to start driving on now

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=123168&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=2&PP=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders

jacksie66 · 23-07-2018 1:48am

This post has been deleted.

marno21 · 06-11-2018 9:18pm

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=137768&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/publictenders

Tender out for ground investigation along the route(s).

spacetweek · 08-11-2018 10:49pm

Astonishing how long this is taking.

marno21 · 09-11-2018 9:50pm

spacetweek wrote: »

Astonishing how long this is taking.

Sadly I can't think of any road schemes at present to which that statement does not apply. The depressing new normal.

73hdkgo · 16-11-2018 10:07am

73hdkgo wrote: »

"Arising from the confirmation of the CPO, the Land acquisition process is ongoing. This will continue in to the New Year but crucially, doesn’t prevent other works from happening in parallel. To this end, we are in the handover process from ROD Consultants who brought the project through the planning and CPO phase to RPS Consultants who will bring it through the detailed design and Tender preparation and Construction stages. We are liaising with the DTTAS Inspector to ensure the project advances at the optimum pace through the various stages remaining."

"The project is continuing on a number of fronts. The land acquisition both by agreement and through the arbitration process is progressing with further hearings scheduled for the weeks beginning Nov 12th and 19th. Necessary Survey work, both in river and on land, has been carried out and/or is being procured."

https://www.clarecoco.ie/your-council/about-the-council/chief-executive-reports/2018/chief-executives-report-november-2018-30118.pdf

marno21 · 27-01-2019 5:22pm

marno21 wrote: »

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=137768&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/publictenders

Tender out for ground investigation along the route(s).

Awarded to Priority Geotechnical:

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=137768&PP=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=2

marno21 · 29-06-2019 1:55am

Killaloe Bridge and By-Pass: Consent to access certain lands is still awaited so that the necessary survey and ground investigation works
can be completed in advance of the detailed design being completed. This work is ongoing and will be followed by the required archaeological surveys. In parallel, our Consultants RPS, are continuing with the various technical assessments and modelling and Land acquisition agreements are being progressed where possible by agreement. In a number of cases, Land Acquisition is being progressed through the Arbitration process with the next hearing listed for June 17th

Latest.

73bc61lyohr0mu · 23-08-2019 1:37am

Any more of an update on this?

marno21 · 23-08-2019 1:53am

July update:

Killaloe Bridge and By-Pass – RPS continue to work on the final elements of the detailed design while in parallel, the required surveys in terms of Ground Investigation, Topographical and Archaeological continue to be arranged and carried out. Land acquisition agreements continue to be progressed by agreement where possible as well as through the Statutory Arbitration Process in a small number of cases. This work is ongoing with hearings listed by the Property Arbitrator in the last 2 weeks of June and again scheduled for the first week and a half in July

A2LUE42 · 30-09-2019 9:22am

Seems to be some work done on site....finally.

73hdkgo · 20-11-2019 9:57am

Killaloe Bridge and By-Pass – As required, we are liaising with DTTaS, TII, OPW, IW and the Utility companies in relation to technical compliance and statutory consents. We are also working towards finalising the various Landowner Deals by agreement where possible, while others are being processed through the Arbitration process. An updated Business Case was submitted to the Department last month for their review and the next Project Team meeting is scheduled for Thursday Nov 14th. The Tender short listing process will commence by year’s end with the scheme expected to go to tender in early Summer 2020. Following the procurement process and evaluation of tenders received, we would expect to award the contract in late 2020 subject to Department approval. The construction period is expected to take 3 years thereafter.

marno21 · 28-12-2019 3:24am

http://www.clare.fm/news/fresh-legal-challenges-may-lead-minor-delays-killaloe-bypass/

Tender expected in mid 2020, but there are outstanding legal objections.

I think this has something to do with the "usual suspect" we are quite familiar with here, but I am open to correction on that.

A2LUE42 · 18-06-2020 2:50pm

https://www.nenaghguardian.ie/news/roundup/articles/2020/06/18/4189731-work-on-new-shannon-crossing-to-start-by-end-of-year/

Deputy Alan Kelly has confirmed that work will commence on the new Ballina-Killaloe bridge by the end of 2020.

He said: “Following on from discussions I had last week with officials in the Department of Transport, I can confirm that preliminary work on the new Ballina-Killaloe bridge will commence before the year end and that the full contract for the work will go to tender later on this year.

“Officials have confirmed to me that the project will not be impacted in any way by any changes in Government and that they are committed to its construction in as timely a fashion as possible.

“The department confirmed that work on an advance contract to do preparatory work on the route and design is aimed to commence after the summer and be completed by February 2021 and in tandem the full contract for construction will be put out to tender with a three year timeframe. The estimated cost of the construction is expected to be in excess of €40 millon. The preparatory work to be completed by next February will involve felling of trees, fencing and design works across the 6.2 kilometre route of the project. Once this is completed and the tender is awarded, the construction is expected to be carried out as one project rather than three separate ones for the new bridge; the upgrade of the Birdhill to Ballina R494 road and the bypass around Killaloe.

“I'm delighted that this work is finally commencing after I first put this into the National Development Plan in 2015. There were a number of legal and planning issues that held this up so I am delighted that we have reached this stage. It is a project that will transform the area and one I have promoted for over a decade.”

marno21 · 18-06-2020 3:09pm

Good to hear they are doing this as one project rather than three separate ones, which wouldn't really make a whole pile of sense.

Killaloe bypass, Shannon crossing & R494 Birdhill-Killaloe

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