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Killaloe bypass, Shannon crossing & R494 Birdhill-Killaloe

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Comments

  • #362
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,628 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123686174#Comment_123686174

    Most people don't think much about emergency services till they need them.



  • #363
    Cookiemunster
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 13,059 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123686996#Comment_123686996

    Something like this doesn't happen without input from the emergency services.



  • #364
    ricimaki
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 802 ✭✭✭ricimaki


    Keeping the old bridge open for car traffic for the extremely rare case where there is an emergency situation in the middle of the bridge is lunacy….

    If there is an emergency situation in the middle of the bridge, emergency service vehicles would park at either end and make their way down to the incident area, as they would in any pedestrianised street or zone. With the bridge closed to traffic, those vehicles would have much easier and safer access to the bridge ends, as they don't have to navigate queues of cars.

    There is also the significant reduction in probability of an incident occurring due to the lack of vehicles on the bridge. It's no longer possible for vehicles to hit other vehicles or pedestrians on the bridge.

    Lastly, emergency vehicles have improved access to the residential areas of Ballina and (less so with the bypass) Killaloe with the old bridge closed to traffic. They now have a straight route through, rather than having to navigate queuing cars, giving faster access where they are much more likely needed to go.



  • #365
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,628 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123687167#Comment_123687167

    One would hope so.



  • #366
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,628 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123687223#Comment_123687223

    Keeping the old bridge open for car traffic for the extremely rare case where there is an emergency situation in the middle of the bridge is lunacy….

    Nobody is suggesting keeping the bridge open to car traffic for an emergency situation on the bridge.



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  • #367
    The wonderfish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 680 ✭✭✭The wonderfish


    Absolutely ridiculous decision to close the old bridge to traffic. It now means all traffic coming from the portroe side of Ballina, the most populous part of the village due to the crazy amount of construction that went on up around Cullina, now all have to go through the village to get to Killaloe. For the couple of weeks where both bridges were open it was fantastic that traffic from the boher road side could go by the new bridge and traffic from that portroe side could take the old bridge. The village from goosers to mills’s was like it was in 1980s. Absolute disgrace that this is happening after all the years of waiting for this new bridge, the local population were never clearly informed that closure of old bridge was a condition of the new bridge build.



  • #368
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,317 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    It isn't, this is literally a temporary trial.

    Boards is in danger of closing very soon, if it's yer thing, go here (use your boards.ie email!)

    👇️ 👇️

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/


  • #369
    The wonderfish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 680 ✭✭✭The wonderfish


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123687602#Comment_123687602

    By all accounts it is ‘temporary’ in name only, hopefully this is wrong as it really makes no sense to that vast majority of those living locally.



  • #370
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,317 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    Which accounts?

    Boards is in danger of closing very soon, if it's yer thing, go here (use your boards.ie email!)

    👇️ 👇️

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/


  • #371
    dennyk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,888 ✭✭✭dennyk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123687366#Comment_123687366

    It's still a fraction of the traffic that used to pass through the south side of Ballina before the new bridge went in, so I'm sure the folks on that end of town will be able to manage somehow.



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  • #372
    A2LUE42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,610 ✭✭✭A2LUE42


    00

    Post edited by A2LUE42 on


  • #373
    A2LUE42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,610 ✭✭✭A2LUE42


    00

    Post edited by A2LUE42 on


  • #374
    cnocbui
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,135 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    00

    Post edited by cnocbui on


  • #375
    cson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,589 ✭✭✭✭cson


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123687366#Comment_123687366

    Its a disgrace that they've added half a mile and 5 minutes to your commute to Killaloe? (Which is likely a wash with the traffic lights anyway).

    What else is a disgrace in your book?



  • #376
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,628 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123689783#Comment_123689783

    Speaking of traffic lights, does anyone know why are the lights on the Ballina side are still operating ?

    They seem to be no longer necessary.



  • #377
    zoe 3619
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 634 ✭✭✭zoe 3619


    Absolutely agree with you Wonderfish.

    While there's planners in offices getting pats on the backs for this,local residents have put up with huge disruption and their needs and opinions have been ignored.

    Vast majority want the old bridge open to car traffic.There's not adequate parking provided to stop and walk between the two villages and the by pass diverts traffic far enough around the town that local businesses will be affected.

    Think there was to be a protest this evening.

    New bridge is amazing and great for taking the Limerick traffic and heavy vehicles off the road but locals still need access.

    Post edited by zoe 3619 on


  • #378
    cson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,589 ✭✭✭✭cson


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123690427#Comment_123690427

    "Huge disruption"?

    Give me a break.

    You two need to get over yourselves tbh.

    Its not a big deal your trip to Aldi takes 2 more minutes.



  • #379
    cantalach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,030 ✭✭✭cantalach


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123690427#Comment_123690427

    Aren’t these faceless planners in offices the same people who planned construction of the new bridge to ease congestion in the town? Wasn’t delivering you a nice uncontested town not a great example of NOT ignoring the needs and opinions of local people?



  • #380
    gladerunner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 59 ✭✭gladerunner


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123690427#Comment_123690427

    how can you talk about the vast majority when you don’t know the numbers. I have seen 3 unofficial polls on various platforms and most people are really enjoying the plans. Cars should not get to monopolise both bridges which are situated in very close proximity. I happened to be in Goosers last night and walked across to the anchor bar, the amount of kids cycling and walking across the old bridge was something to behold. No dangers, access to the walk way down by the canal & and access to the library.
    meanwhile a group of people “ protesting “ on the most wonderful addition to the towns.

    I live in Birdhill and Ballina was a no go area in terms of frequenting the local shops. I can now access Keoghs, wooden spoon and goosers with such ease. In time I think the businesses will see this as a massive step in bringing safe footfall to the town.

    The excuses to stop this pedestrian option have bordered on scaremongering , from a 2 min delay, access for emergency vehicles and even someone suggested safety on the old bridge as the cars were providing security for walkers. I’ve heard it all, but I can tell you, anyone in doubt about it should go down and count the smiles of children, elderly and even those relaxing on the benches.


    parking is no way connected to the bridge if it is open to traffic or not. There is a lack of parking in either situation

    Post edited by gladerunner on


  • #381
    Deedsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,354 ✭✭✭Deedsie


    If there is any sense at all the bridge will be left as a pedestrian/active travel bridge. It should have been made clear from the start that this was the plan from the beginning. But having cars on it again to placate a few whinging motorists would be very disappointing.



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  • #382
    gladerunner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 59 ✭✭gladerunner


    it’s a very small but vocal group unfortunately, who can not see the possibilities and wouldn’t even give it a chance

    The plan was formally published in 2021 for all to see

    draft-killaloe-ballina-enhancement-plan-july-2021-43444.pdf


  • #383
    gladerunner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 59 ✭✭gladerunner


    Hopefully in time, we all all look back and laugh at this silly argument



  • #384
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,628 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123691349#Comment_123691349

    Just a small point.

    I suggested maintaining access for emergency vehicles in the event of an incident on the bridge or on the water.

    I was proposing this in conjunction with the pedestrianisation/cycleway not to stop it.



  • #385
    gladerunner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 59 ✭✭gladerunner


    What kind of emergency would prevent someone getting an ambulance reaching them.

    It’s actually faster and easier now to get down to the bridge



  • #386
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,628 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123691697#Comment_123691697

    It's not just the ambulances.

    There is also the fire service, AGS, Coast Guard and RNLI.

    All of these services should have unhindered access to attend to incidents on the bridge or the water below.

    This can easily be done without interfering with the pedestrian/cycle way.



  • #387
    sliabh 1956
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 514 ✭✭✭sliabh 1956


    I used the new bridge for the first time this week what a wonderful inception for the tourist. A big thank you for all those who contributed to this project.



  • #388
    steve-o
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 923 ✭✭✭steve-o


    The dastardly faceless planners have installed traffic counters in multiple locations in the area, so they'll have data on traffic patterns from before and during the trial. I'm surprised some of the naysayers aren't complaining of wear and tear on their tyres from going over the rubber measurement tubes!



  • #389
    The wonderfish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 680 ✭✭✭The wonderfish


    Let’s see if the final decision can be made via plebiscite - I believe everyone would be in favour and agree with the majority vote of the locals…it might surprise a few on this forum 😉



  • #390
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,130 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123692070#Comment_123692070

    If the trial works they could very easily install a retractable barrier for emergency services like many other places do.

    They are not gonna spend money installing them for a trial.



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  • #391
    pajoguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 923 ✭✭✭pajoguy


    Out there today. Huge numbers on the old bridge over and back. It must be some relief to residents both sides that they can decide to make a journey without being stuck in traffic for an hour and have some certainty over journey times.



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