Independent Tipperary TD Michael Lowry is calling for progress on the Thurles Inner Relief Road.
The TD says that an independent valuer has been appointed to help conclude negotiations to enable Tipperary County Council to purchase 4.5 areas of 9.95 acre site currently for sale on the Mill Road in Thurles. It is understood that the landowner will insist that a final sale agreement with the Council must include for the completion of the pedestrian footpath from the Dublin Road roundabout, known locally as the Anner Roundabout, to Lady’s Well as a condition of the sale.
Deputy Lowry says that the land owner has at all times been willing to facilitate the delivery of the Inner Relief road on reasonable and fair terms. The Inner Relief road includes a bridge over the River Suir in Clongour and an access road to the MIC Campus which the college has sought to enable expansion plans including the construction of student accommodation. Traffic Modelling for the Thurles Local Area Plan suggests that a bridge in this location would reduce traffic on the heavily congested town centre bridge by 15% – while delivery of the eastern By Pass route for Thurles would reduce traffic on the town centre bridge by 50%.
Funding for the construction of the bridge and roadway – estimated at €5.5M will have to be secured if the land is purchased by the Council – the project was given planning approval by An Bord Pleanála in 2014.
