Public consultation on proposed Sky Ride route

CLARE County Council this week began inviting submissions from members of the public regarding the proposed route of the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia later this year.
The mass participation event takes place in County Clare on the morning and early afternoon of August 22. The event organisers expect to attract 2,000 entrants from throughout Ireland and abroad, bringing significant economic benefit into the local economy, with numbers increasing considerably over the next five years.
The 85-mile cycle will commence and finish in Ennis, as will travel through Ruan, Corofin, Kilnaboy, Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Lahinch, Spanish Point, Connolly and Kilmaley.
Tom Tiernan, senior engineer, Clare County Council explained that the public consultation process presents an opportunity for members of the public to view and comment on the proposed route and road closures for that day. He added, “This is a closed road mass-participation event, the first of its kind in Ireland, and therefore necessitates the temporary closure of roads to all traffic for specific time periods along the proposed route”.
“A map of the proposed route and details of road closures may be viewed on the council website, www.clarecoco.ie. The proposed closures are set out in accordance with Section 75 of the Roads Act 1993. Alternative routes will be put in place for the duration of all road closures,” Mr Tiernan added.
Among the road closures are the Gort Road out of Ennis from the Information Age Park to the junction with Ruan road. Other roads closing in the county town are the Ennis Ring Road at the Beechpark Roundabout; Drumbiggle Road from the Ennis Ring Road to the junction with Carmody Street; Carmody Street between the Drumbiggle Road and Kilrush Road junctions; Market Street and Lower Market Street. There will also be a number of road diversions.
Throughout the county, there will be road closures from Ruan to Corofin to the junction at Black Head and from there to Fanore along the Coast Road on to Crag and Spanish Point and the road from there via Miltown Malbay back to Ennis.
Maps and details are available for public inspection at the offices of Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, and all Clare County Council area offices, libraries, garda stations and at www.etapehibernia.com.
Representations relating to the closures and diversions may be made in writing before 4pm on Friday, June 18 to the Senior Staff Officer, Planning, Land Use and Transportation, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis.
Any objections to the proposed closures in the Ennis area should be forwarded in writing to the Town Clerk, Ennis Town Council, Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, Ennis by the same deadline.
Details of alternative routes are available on the Roads and Transport section of the council website, www.clarecoco.ie.