Concern is being expressed that a lack of traffic management at Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon is making a joke out of Ireland to our foreign visitors.
The notorious traffic blackspot is back in the spotlight this week after two elderly tourists were forced to direct cars there when their coach broke down, leaving the town at a standstill.
Clare FM’s James Mulhall reports:
Traffic at Blake’s Corner once again came to a complete standstill this week when a tourist bus broke down on the Ennis side of the turn-off for the Cliffs of Moher.
This led to cars being backed up right out the Ennis road and has brought the issue of traffic management there firmly back under the radar.
Two elderly tourists, who were travelling on the British-registered bus, were forced to direct cars around it, while it was repaired.
Local man Michael Gallery drove past the scene and says this is further proof that a traffic warden is needed until permanent works there are completed.
Long-term works to address the problem will see the construction of a new Bridge over the River Inagh, as well as the pedestrianisation of the existing bridge and also the demolition of three existing properties.
In recent weeks, Clare County Council confirmed that it will be late 2021 at the earliest before they will be completed.
Before then, the route is going to see thousands on it next summer with both the usual tourist traffic and the many golf fans heading to Lahinch for the Irish Open in July.
Dan McInerney is part of the campaign group Let’s Get Ennistymon Moving, who have long been lobbying for an interim measure there until it’s sorted and says it’s high time something was done.
