Nenagh’s new traffic system goes live
Big changes in town centre from today
A new one-way traffic system will become operational in Nenagh from this Thursday, April 11, in a move aimed at easing congestion in the town centre.
The long established two-way traffic flow in operation on some of the streets in the urban core will be replaced by the new system that will see new one-way flows in a clockwise direction from the junction of the AIB bank on Pearse Street up to the Market Cross, through Mitchel Street, Emmet Place and on to Kickham Street.
The existing one-way system in Silver Street will be reversed, with traffic instead flowing back towards the Market Cross as part of the overall scheme.
The existing traffic lights will cease to operate at the Market Cross and the mini-roundabout outside the AIB branch in Pearse Street will be eliminated under the new system.
The new one-way system has been proposed for several years, but its implementation was postponed by Tipperary County Council until other major infrastructural works on the streets of the town were completed in order to minimise distuption to trade.
The council had hoped to move the bus stops in the town from Banba Square and Kickham Street to a dedicated public transport hub it had proposed to develop at the railway station. However, the National Transport Authority have to date opposed this move and the council, in a compromise move, has decided to relocate one bus stop at Kickham Street to Pearse Street.
The works to roll out the one-way traffic system have included modifications to existing pedestrian crossings and the installation of new raised pedestrian crossings.
At last month’s meeting of the Nenagh Municipal District authority, Cllr Hughie McGrath urged the council to have staff on the ground to guide the public when the new system goes live.
District Engineer Barry Murphy said the council would have people on site at the pedestrian crossings to provide guidance until the public became used to the system.
The council says the traffic changes will come into effect from approximately 11am on this Thursday.
PEARSE STREET
Two one-way lanes will be in operation from the junction at the AIB in Pearse Street running to the Market Cross, where there will be a left turn into Kenyon Street and a right turn into Mitchel Street.
There will no longer be access for vehicles into Silver Street from the Market Cross.
Traffic coming down to the Market Cross from the new one-way direction being introduced in Silver Street will only have the sole option of turning left into Mitchel Street.
A lot of heavy vehicle traffic will be directed away from Sarsfield Street. Lorries over 3.5 tons travelling through Mitchel Street will not be allowed up Sarsfield Street. Instead, these large vehicles will be forced to take a right turn into Emmet Place, bringing them on into Kickham Street. At the garda station at Emmet Place there will be a two-lane approach to Kickham Street, with traffic heading towards Banba Square turning left. Traffic heading toward Pearse Street at this point will turn right into Kickham Street.