Work on €11.6m Clare town infrastructure update commences

WORK ON one of the largest public infrastructure projects to be undertaken in Ennis in decades is set to get underway.

Clare County Council has confirmed that the first phase of works to enhance the streetscape of High Street, Bank Place, O’Connell Square, O’Connell Street, Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square in Ennis will commence on Monday, October 23.

€8,744,275 has been approved for Project B of the Ennis Public Realm Regeneration Strategy following the successful delivery of significant public realm enhancements at Parnell Street, and town laneways and bow-ways in 2020 and 2021.

Funded under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) with 25% match funding from Clare County Council, Project B will be delivered in phases to minimise disruption to local business.  

Shoppers-on-foot will have to find alternative route in Clare town

“The public response to the proposed works has been extremely positive to date,” said Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Pat Daly. 

“There is great enthusiasm about what the project will deliver in terms of the significant enhancement of the historic town centre for the benefit of traders, visitors and the local community.”

Pedestrian and service access will be facilitated at all times and affected businesses and residents will be kept informed throughout the construction period.  The works are due to be completed in late 2025.  Uisce Éireann is funding the delivery of the foul sewer upgrade in parallel.

Phase 1 of the works, which are being undertaken by Shareridge Ltd, entail the upgrading of footways and kerbs with high quality surface materials, undergrounding of cables, improved wall-mounted street lighting and replacement of large sections of the Uisce Éireann foul sewer. 

The works will focus on the area extending from the junction of Old Barrack Street and O’Connell Street to Carmody Street. The first phase is planned for completion in April 2024 and includes a five-week pause in works from December 1, to early January to promote Christmas and New Year trade.

The commencement of works also coincides with the ending of the Temporary pedestrianisation measures currently in place for O’Connell Street on Sunday, October 22 at 4.30pm. 

Meanwhile, site investigation works will take place at O’Connell Square over the coming weeks ahead of Phase 2 of the project commencing in 2024. Vehicular access will be maintained throughout.