Minister to visit sites of major Thurles road projects
The Minister is due to visit the sites of two major infrastructure projects in Thurles
Deputy Ryan O’Meara, on Thursday evening, announced that he has organised for the Fianna Fáil Minister for Public Expenditure and Infrastructure, Jack Chambers to visit Thurles with him on Friday September 25.
The Minister will be visiting two high-profile projects in the town, the Turtulla Cross improvement works and the Inner Relief Road, both of which are dependent on future funding.
The Minister will also be visiting Thurles Golf Club.
“I am pleased that Minister Chambers has agreed to my request to visit Thurles to view first-hand the need for both the Thurles Inner Relief Road and the Turtulla Cross Roundabout Scheme” said Deputy O’Meara.
Deputy O’Meara also said that he believe the appointment of a consultant for the design of the Inner Relief Road scheme was imminent, “vital” to improve traffic congestion in the town.
“I have consistently raised these two key infrastructure projects for Thurles with both the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD and Minister Chambers.”
“It is a priority for me that both projects progress and to do this, we will require significant capital funding from government over the coming years. I will take the opportunity in person with Minister Chambers in Thurles to show to him the importance of funding these projects.
“I previously met with Minister Chambers in his department in Dublin in advance of the finalisation of the National Development Plan (NDP) to ensure that the Thurles Inner Relief Road was included in the updated NDP.
“We succeed in this. Now, statutory Planning is in place for the scheme, the required lands have been acquired, and preliminary design has been prepared.
TURTULLA CROSS
“I will also explain to the Minister that the Part 8 planning process has been completed for the Turtulla Cross Roundabout Scheme, with approval anticipated this autumn.
“The scheme will replace the existing staggered junction with a new roundabout and deliver significant road safety improvements on a key route serving Thurles and the wider area.
“Turtulla Cross has been a major safety issue for many years, and I want the Minister to see for himself the road safety need as part of my work to secure funding for this project also.
“Finally, I would like to thank Minister Chambers for taking time out of his busy schedule, particularly in the lead up to the Budget, to visit Thurles with me to discuss these key projects.”