Traffic delays expected at Gort/Crusheen bypass

MOTORISTS travelling either direction of the Barefield area of the N18 can expect considerable delays next week when the schools reopen after the mid-term break.
Ahead of the planned opening of the Gort/Crusheen bypass on November 12, all N18 traffic is being diverted through the village of Barefield.
Tom Tiernan, senior executive engineer with Clare County Council, said there is a necessity to divert all N18 traffic through the village of Barefield since last Tuesday to Friday, November 11, to facilitate the works involved in tying in the southern end of the project with the northern end of the Ennis bypass.
“For this period, therefore, traffic levels through Barefield will be approximately similar to what they were prior to the opening of the Ennis bypass in 2007. The main disruption will be at school start and finish times due to the location of the school and the fact that it accommodates over 300 children.
“Before the diversion was approved, an extensive public consultation process was accommodated and within the past two weeks a wide ranging meeting was held involving all stake holders, including project and contractor representatives, the school authorities, the gardai and Clare County Council, to discuss and decide on actions to be implemented to ensure orderly traffic management and the safety of children coming to and going from the school. The meeting was very constructive and agreement was reached in relation to all of the key issues,” he explained.
He added that the timing is such that the first week of the diversion this week coincides with the school mid-term break.
“The experience to be gained during this first week should be of benefit when the more pressurised circumstances come into play the following week with the reopening of the school,” Mr Tiernan commented.
He also pointed out that following the opening of the Gort/Crusheen bypass, the road through Barefield village will be redesignated as a regional route facilitating local traffic travelling between Ennis and Crusheen and surrounding areas.
“Therefore, after November 12th, traffic impact will be greater than it has been since the Ennis bypass opened in 2007, but will be significantly less than will be the case between now and November 12,” he explained.