Hope’s being expressed that a Compulsory Purchase Order granted for Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon could lead to the town’s economy ‘thriving’ when the project is complete.
It comes as a Senior Engineer with Clare County Council is expressing hope works on the bottleneck in the North Clare town could be completed by mid-2025.
An Bord Pleanála’s confirmed the N67/N85 Inner Relief Road Ennistymon CPO will go ahead without modifications.
Clare County Council CEO Pat Dowling has described the move as a positive one, which ‘has the potential to deliver significant and lasting benefits for residents, businesses and visitors in the area’.
The new bridge – which will be 80 metres upstream of the existing bridge – will involve the demolition of one family home that includes a florist and a local branch of the Dept of Social Protection.
Design and tender processes are set to begin next year for the works.
Clare County Council Senior Engineer Sean Lenihan says they will be engaging with landowners who are affected by the development.
There are fears though that tailbacks to Lahinch may still be an ongoing issue even after the works are completed.
Lahinch-based Green Party Councillor Liam Grant though is acknowledging the move is a positive one, particularly for emergency vehicles which can often find themselves stuck at the spot.
The Chair of the West Clare Municipal District believes that the town will benefit in the medium and long term because of the development.
Ennistymon-based postmaster and Councillor Shane Talty says there will be economic advantages to the project, and it may further aid the tourism sector in North Clare.
Works are expected to get underway in early 2024, and are expected to take 14 to 16 months to complete.
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