Progress on major road project in Tipp
Re-alignment of R494 from Birdhill to Ballina
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The old and the new roads at the railway crossing on the R494 where a new section of the Birdhill-Ballina road is being constructed.Image 2 of 3
The bridge over the Kilmastulla River at Coole, Birdhill, which is nearing completion.Image 3 of 3
A new farm underpass, which has been provided on the new R494 Birdhill to Ballina road at Coole, Birdhill.Work is progressing on construction of the re-aligned R494 from Birdhill to Ballina towards the expected completion of the €40m plus project of a new crossing of the Shannon and new infrastructure on both sides of the river.
The work, which will see a restructuring of the road from the intersection with the village of Birdhill and the link road to the M7 Motorway at Birdhill to the village of Ballina, marks a long awaited redevelopment to ease traffic congestion on the route.
The realignment of the road involves the upgrading of sections of the existing road with newly constructed sections to achieve overall higher quality of the route and ultimately lead to an easing of the major traffic congestion, which has been the experience for many years on the approach to the village of Ballina.
Among the more major parts of the work on the Birdhill side are the crossings of the Limerick-Ballybrophy railway line, and the Kilmastulla river.
NEW BRIDGE OVER KILMASTULLA
A new bridge over the Kilmastulla river is nearing completion at Coole, Birdhill, where an adjacent farm underpass has also been provided.
Meantime, the preparatory work for the construction of the new bridge over the railway line is continuing, with substantial work to be carried out on the elevation of the new road lever to align with the height of the new bridge and eliminate the humpback bridge, which has existed on the old road.
While traffic delays are currently being experienced for road users, with traffic lights controlled single line traffic arrangements in place to facilitate the work, the current system has avoided complete road closure so far in the execution of the work.
It is now approaching a quarter of a century since the plans for a second crossing of the Shannon at Ballina-Killaloe and upgrading of the R494 road Birdhill to Ballina, as well as a bypass of Killaloe were being drafted.
The completion of the project in 2024 will bring long awaited ease to road users and hopefully eliminate or reduce the long delays that have been endured by motorists using the R494 for many years, which were particularly exacerbated at evening time and weekends.