Killaloe bypass, Shannon crossing & R494 Birdhill-Killaloe

Had time to check out the old bridge for the first time yesterday, and it was really nice. Quite a good crowd of folks walking and sitting and admiring the view, and the kids were getting a kick out of watching boats pass under the bridge. Popped across to the Wooden Spoon for the first time in a while and it really made the trip seem a lot easier and shorter than usual, being able to relax while walking across the bridge instead of constantly trying to dodge oncoming pedestrians without getting run over by cars. It also seems to have cut down the traffic on the R463 quite a bit, even more so than when the new bridge opened. It's also kind of funny to see people treating the Ballina roundabout as an actual roundabout instead of the usual total anarchy, now that they've repainted the road markings. Only thing I would say is that they really could use a pedestrian crossing on the R494 somewhere near the bridge, as there's often too much traffic to make it safe to cross, especially for folks with mobility issues. Overall, though, I'm definitely liking the pedestrianisation, and I hope they stick with it after the trial.

ya, feck them kids, am i right 😅

The epic buffoonery surrounding this bridge has been so demoralising. We get the greatest bridge and town plans and yet a select few car owners think they can dictate to the community about what’s good for them.

They haven’t even given the trial a chance before staging the most pathetic protest. This protest was communicated like if you were for or against you should attend. Thus indicating the foolishness of it in the first place.
Plebiscite is a good name for it alright.

Common sense prevails. Good news for the area.

Drove over and back the new bridge today and walked the old bridge. What an improvement to the town. Bridge St, Church st and Main St next for (trial) pedestrianization next please.

Looking back over earlier discussion, I see the anti pedestrianization nuts have edited/deleted their comments Soviet-style 😄

I reckon there’s some self interest going on here. Curious to know more

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/tipperary/news/tipperary-bridge-pedestrianisation-has-brought-a-shutter-down-on-twin-towns/a931267191.html

Killaloe is a summer town, of course there is going to be a drop off in the Winter. As the article said it's still busy at the weekends but the Councillor complaining that there is no one using it mid-week.

Small business' engaging in self interest is shocking.

"We have a nice walk called Walk Our Twin Bridges, which is about 3.5 kilometres long, but a lot of people are parking their cars in strategic areas in Ballina that we need for shopping, and then doing the loop and spending nothing here."They’re bringing their own coffee, their own bottle of water, and they’re taking up a parking space on our street,” she said.

Complains that no one is using it then complains about people driving to use it.

Even if we accept the 30% drop as accurate, how much of that drop is due to the bypass. I would imagine most of it.

This "lost" income will appear elsewhere as "new" income - the car will still need petrol and will have to get it at another location (no idea if there's even a service station affected by the bypass but the point is valid for most other goods).

What could happen in the water that would require a vehicle on the bridge. I've never seen a river rescue done that way ?

Also a medical incident on the bridge would be dealt with the same way as one in the middle of a shopping centre or up 4 flights of stairs.

All this "won't somebody please think of the emergency services" has been covered already.