'Repairs have to be done': Update sought on investment for Tullamore bypass surface
Tullamore MD Cathaoirleach, Declan Harvey flagged the problem with the prominent road at the opening of the latest meeting
Questions have been raised once again about the deterioration of the Tullamore bypass at the May meeting of Tullamore Municipal District in the Town Hall.
Councillors requested any potential updates on the surface after the ongoing matter was also discussed at the previous meeting of the elected members in April.
Tullamore MD Cathaoirleach, Declan Harvey flagged the problem with the prominent road at the opening of the latest meeting.
He said: “Repair works have to be done on the bypass, there’s several issues all over it from every angle, whether you're coming from Mucklagh, Ballydaly or any other route.”
Addressing the engineers from Offaly County Council in attendance, the Fianna Fáil representative pushed for an update as he stated: “You were supposed to get onto Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) about the bypass and they were meant to get back to us on it.”
Councillor Neil Feighery was one of the members who highlighted the surface issues which is plaguing one of the Faithful County’s busiest roads at the April meeting.
He also looked for any potential update at the latest meeting and outlined the severity in which the road’s condition is worsening.
Cllr Feighery stated: “The ongoing challenges we are facing regarding the surface of the bypass is at the top of my list, I know you did say that there was some patchwork being done but is there anymore of an update on it?
He added: “It’s incredible how month on month we are noticing more disimprovement of the surface, I was driving recently from Scally’s Centra towards the bypass and it’s in a very bad state in that area as well. The whole bypass urgently needs a significant investment.”
Councillor Aoife Masterson also echoed the same sentiments concerning the issue at the meeting.
She confirmed: "I certainly share many of the councillor’s concerns which have been mentioned here but in particular, in relation to the bypass.”
Senior District Engineer for Tullamore Municipal District, Joe Dooley responded to the concerns about the bypass surface.
He explained: “We’ve relentlessly chased TII for in regard to funding on the bypass, we acknowledge that the entire bypass needs a facelift but we haven’t secured funding for a project of that magnitude.”
Dooley did ensure that repair works would continue on the places badly affected on the surface of the bypass.
He revealed: “We have already completed some works on the Kilbeggan side of it but we have secured funding to do more repairs so we will be tendering so that we can repair the worst sections of it but by no means will we be able to get every item that needs to be addressed on it.”
However, the District Engineer assured councillors that they will continue to do everything they can to secure the substantial investment needed to improve the surface of the bypass.
He concluded: “We’ll keep chasing the department because we’ve had them down here and the inspectors walked the bypass with us so they are well aware of the issues so we’d be hopeful that we’ll get more funding.”
“Any funding we have been allocated, we’ll be spending it straight away and then we’ll be back banging on the door of the TII for further funding. We are relentless in our quest for investment for the bypass, it’s very high on our agenda and that’s what we’re doing to address the issue.”