South Clare

THE proposed Shannon Bridge Crossing project, costing an estimated €40 million, was subjected to a detailed route selection process, according to Clare County Council senior engineer, Tom Tiernan.

BUSINESSES in Killaloe and Ballina are uniting to organise a major food and fashion extravaganza in a bid to attract additional visitors next September.

PUBLIC Transport and Commuter Affairs Minister Alan Kelly has received confirmation that the National Roads Authority (NRA) will not be objecting to the proposed €40 million Shannon crossing at Ballina/Killaloe. There were fears the NRA would lodge a formal objection due to the potential loss of revenue to the Shannon Tunnel toll bridge near Limerick City. However, Minister Kelly believes these concerns are ill-founded and should not prevent progress on the project. The minister’s intervention can be viewed as a boost to the project promoters, in light of the NRA’s submission to the county council about possible impact on the Shannon Tunnel, which is already being heavily subsidised by the taxpayer.The nine-day oral hearing concerning the proposed development of a new River Shannon crossing, Killaloe bypass and upgrading of the Ballina to Birdhill regional road concluded at the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh on Thursday.Minister Kelly has received an assurance from the State’s principal roads body that the project should go …

THE results of an audit into a proposed new signage programme for the Lough Derg area will be unveiled at two public meetings in Portumna and Killaloe and Ballina on Monday, November 5.The audit, which has been carried out by consultants URS Ireland on behalf of the Lough Derg Marketing Strategy Group (LDMSG), focuses on the need for and benefits of tourism signage, including orientation, interpretative and information boards.The signage strategy meetings will be held on Monday, November 5 at Portumna Town and Community Hall from 5pm to 6.30pm and at the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe/Ballina from 8pm to 9.30pm.North Tipperary county manager and LDMSG chairman, Joe McGrath, emphasised the importance of branding Lough Derg to avoid confusion with the other place of worship in Donegal, to help it reach its tourism potential.Speaking to The Clare Champion recently, Mr McGrath said he is concerned about the name recognition for the lake and its surrounding attractions because it gets continuously confused with …

Serious questions about the need for the new €40 million Shannon Bridge Crossing were raised by objectors to the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and their representatives during the seventh day of an oral hearing on Tuesday.

THE lack of adequate space for pedestrians crossing the existing bridge on a daily basis linking Killaloe and Ballina has been described as the “elephant in the room” in relation to the provision of a new river crossing and bypass.

Legal representatives dealing with the compulsory purchase of land for the proposed development of a new River Shannon Crossing and associated infrastructure clashed during an oral hearing over the introduction of additional information about Killaloe traffic surveys conducted in November 2011.

The expansion of national schools in South-East Clare is reflected in two separate planning applications for an extension to existing accommodation.