IN light of significant shortfall in funding for the Abbeyfeale Traffic Management Plan, the Council is reviewing the phasing and proposed scope of works to prioritise what can be delivered within the available budget.
There is currently a funding commitment of €14m from Limerick City and County Council, National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Total scheme costs, however, are estimated in the region of €26m. There are also certain constraints as to how the funding is allocated to the phases.
Councillors in Newcastle West Municipal District were informed that the Council is reviewing the works that can be delivered within the available funding and as further funds could become available.
“We are currently reviewing with our consultant engineers the option of completing an initial project to construct the link road with car parking in the old O’Riordan’s site,” senior executive planner Donnacha Reynolds said in response to a question from Cllr Liam Galvin (FG).
This, according to the Council’s Planning and Placemaking Department, would provide 21 extra parking spaces as well as a link from the N21 through to the current Grove Terrace Carpark.
They also spoke of plans to explore a funding application to the Office of Public Works for works to the culvert within the carpark.
“As both the NTA and TII funding seeks to prioritise works along the N21 Main Street and Square area, we have asked our engineers to complete a cost plan for this area as a priority. Subject to the cost estimate being within the funding available, we propose to proceed the complete detailed design for this area as the second project to be delivered,” Mr Reynolds explained.
The local authority also told Council members it is likely that any further works will require additional funding applications such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
“We would hope to be in a position to tender the initial project at O’Riordan’s link/car park within the next few months with start on site early next year,” he concluded.
