Tipperary councillor slams officials over Thurles bypass delays

A road sign for Cashel and Thurles on the N62 in Co Tipperary. Picture: Denis Minihane

A Tipperary councillor has lashed out at road safety officials for not implementing plans for a bypass of Thurles, asking how many more lives need to be lost before the plan moves forward.

Cllr Jim Ryan says four people have died in traffic collisions in recent years in the town, which endures heavy congestion daily.

Plans for a bypass were drawn up in 2011, he said, but were shelved due to the economic crash. But they have not reappeared in the National Roads 2040 plan, which is Transport Infrastructure Ireland's long-term plan for the national roads network.

“Four people have been killed by HGVs in Thurles in recent years” he said.

“That includes an 80-year-old a few weeks ago. Then there are accidents and injuries too.

“Between the accidents, and traffic jams, noise and air pollution, as well as buildings being hit by lorries because the streets are so narrow, it’s a disaster. Every politician in the area has been inundated with these problems and complaints."

He says the issue of a bypass of the town was first mooted in 1958 by councillors on the old Thurles Urban District Council.

The Tipperary town, which has a population of around 6,500, suffers heavy congestion due to two national roads, the N75 and the N62, which pass through it.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Transport told the Irish Examiner: “Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) oversees the National Roads Network and works in collaboration with Local Authorities on developing the national roads programme. A national roads bypass of Thurles was previously considered but the project was suspended in 2011 primarily due to the economic downturn. The project was not included in the current NDP 2021-2030 and therefore TII/Tipperary County Council have not provided any further funding for this project.

“The Thurles Inner Relief Road is a Regional Road Project being developed by Tipperary County Council. The Department have allocated some funds to facilitate Tipperary County Council progressing with the planning and design for progressing a Thurles Inner Relief Road. This is currently ongoing with the local authority.” 

Responding to that statement, Cllr Ryan said: “An inner relief road will not take the articulated lorries away from the town centre.”