Tag Archives: motorway

SUPERMACS managing director Pat McDonagh has said the granting of planning permission for a new Barack Obama plaza-style motorway service station on the outskirts of Ennis “will be a huge boost” to the county capital. Clare County Council have given the green light to the €10 million development adjacent to Junction 12 of the M18 at Kilbreckan, Doora which is set to create 120 jobs. This was the fast-food chain’s fourth application to develop the service station at this location. Reacting to the granting of planning permission for the development, Mr McDonagh said the decision is affirmation of the commitment of the local authority to the people of Clare. He said Supermac’s will do, “everything to respond generously in job creation and all it takes to ensure that this development will contribute significantly over decades to the economic and social development of Ennis and the whole county”. He said there is “no substitute for tangible investment and that the creation of …

SUPERMACS’ owner Pat McDonagh is hopeful that “perseverance pays at the end of the day” as reignited plans for a motorway service station on the outskirts of Ennis are set to be lodged for planning permission in the coming days. This will be the fast-food chain’s fourth application for a Barack Obama Plaza style development adjacent to Junction 12 of the M18 at Kilbreckan, Doora. Mr McDonagh confirms that that the newly proposed €10 million development will be a scaled down version of previous plans for the site as well as being “a smaller version of the Obama Plaza”. If the plans are given the green-light the development is expected to create around 130 full and part time jobs. Asked what he feels the chances of getting planning permission this time around he says, “I’m always optimistic. There’s room for it, and I think it’s badly needed to be quite honest on that motorway. Mr McDonagh believes there is demand …

This Wednesday’s opening of the M18 Gort to Tuam motorway has been welcomed by Councillor Tom McNamara, Mayor of Clare. Mayor McNamara said the motorway is “a vitally important infrastructure project that will bring a range of significant benefits for the regional economy and for communities along the route that are currently experiencing traffic congestion.  It also will create immediate benefits, especially for drivers of commercial and heavy vehicles.” “There are clear benefits for Shannon Airport which will be easily accessible to customers along the western seaboard while the improved connectivity will make the West of Ireland a more competitive location for foreign direct investment,” he said. Shannon Group and Shannon Airport have stated that the opening of the M18 Gort to Tuam motorway is “an unprecedented opportunity to advance the case of a western economic corridor”. Shannon Airport managing director Andrew Murphy said that this final link in a seamless motorway/dual carriageway chain from Tuam to Galway, Ennis, Shannon, …

MEMBERS of Clare County Council have questioned plans for a new online motorway service area, claiming it could have a negative impact on businesses in Newmarket and Shannon. A letter presented to this week’s meeting of Shannon Municipal District from Halcrow Barry stated, “Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is promoting a scheme to provide online motorway service areas at specific locations across the Irish motorway network. Halcrow Barry is the appointed consultant engaged by the TII to carry out the site selection process and design of the scheme. “We previously presented to the Shannon Municipal District in November 2015, regarding the site selection process for an online motorway service area on the M18 between Junction 7 (Hurler’s Cross Sixmilebridge) and Junction 12 (Ennis). “The site selection study is now complete and the preferred site has been identified as Site 1E. Site 1E is situated on the eastern side of the M18 in the townlands of Ballyconneely and Ballynacraffa, approximately 1.5km north-west …

TRANSPORT Infrastructure Ireland has refuted claims that the risk of flooding in the area was not taken into account when the Gort to Tuam motorway was being designed. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has stated that motorways are designed and built to maintain the existing flood levels in the area in which they are constructed, with the principle aim being not to compound the existing conditions. “Therefore, the M17/M18 motorway design has to cater for the existing conditions. Under OPW’s design guidance, the M17/M18 motorway has an additional 20% design capacity above and beyond the existing conditions to take into account current climate change events. “It should also be noted that the national motorway network remained open during the most recent extreme weather events. Will motorway/road design always be climate-change proof? The answer is in the question; climate change will drive the design criteria into the future,” said Sean O’Neill, spokesperson. TII was responding to claims by hydrologist Professor Paul Johnson that …

Ibec Mid-West and Kerry has called on all General Election candidates to support key road projects that will make the region a better place to live, work and do business. Completion of the M20 Cork to Limerick and N69 Foynes to Limerick projects must be prioritised to support job creation and the development of the region’s economy. Ibec Mid-West and Kerry regional director, Sinead Mullins said, “With half a million people living within 10km of the proposed motorway, the crucial M20 Cork-Limerick project needs to be urgently progressed. If delivered, this project can support economic recovery in the entire South-West and Mid-West regions and will underpin the regional contribution to the national economy. All candidates need to publically get behind this vital project which will be a significant advance in developing an effective Atlantic Corridor.” She continued, “The lack of a motorway is damaging connectivity and the competitiveness of the region, while broadening the divide between Dublin and the regions. …

There were considerable tailbacks on the M18 Ennis to Limerick motorway this morning (Tuesday) following a seven-vehicle pile-up. The accident occurred  on the north-bound lane near Manus, Clarecastle during a heavy hailstone shower. Emergency services from Ennis and Shannon attended the scene. There were no fatalities but a number of people were treated for minor injuries. Ennis-bound traffic was diverted on the old road through Clarecastle.

UPDATE:15:00 A multi-vehicle car accident on the south-bound lane of the M18 motorway, on the Ennis side of Crusheen early today (Tuesday) resulted in the road being closed for over an hour. The crash occurred at approximately 7.30am and resulted in major diversions while the scene was being cleared and gardaí investigated. No one was seriously injured in the crash. Drivers heading from Ennis to Galway were initially asked to divert at the Tulla road junction, while, those travelling from Galway to Ennis as asked to divert at Gort through Tubber. However the route has since reopened. This morning’s crash is understood to have involved cars stopping to help a motorist who had skidded before a further vehicle skidded in the slippery conditions. Gardaí have issued an appeal to all road users to exercise particular care as the cold weather is set to continue over the coming days. “We would remind all motorists to drive as the conditions determine. We …