ICYMI: 'Utter disaster' - Kilkenny roadworks heavily criticised - Council Highlights
Traffic chaos in the area has caused great frustration amongst local drivers
Independent, Cllr Eugene McGuinness voiced his frustration at the traffic situation at the Bennettsbridge Road Roundabout, bemoaning the decision to reduce the stretch of road from two lanes to one lane in the Black Quarry area of the city.
Cllr McGuinness has been a vocal critic of the project since it was completed over 12 months ago. In response, Senior Roads Engineer with Kilkenny County Council, Stan Cullen confirmed the local authority was 'engaging' with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) who are responsible for the project with a view to making it more driver and pedestrian friendly.
In putting the question to Mr Cullen at a sitting of the Kilkenny City Municipal District earlier this year, Cllr McGuinness described the current traffic situation in the area as a 'disaster'.
"Those responsible, decided in their wisdom to do what they did out there. They effectively bottle necked the entire Ring Road," the city based councillor claimed.
"It's extremely frustrating for people trying to get across there in the afternoon,” he continued, adding, "it's a most serious problem," he concluded.
The local councillor spoke further on the matter via his own social media channels subsequently.
"We all knew it was going to be a disaster," he argued.
"This does not work, it’s a bottle neck on the Ring Road we don’t need. We need it corrected," he remarked.
"This has been a complete and utter disaster so I'm delighted that is going to happen now. In my opinion, it will be corrected," he stated.
The ongoing road saga is not the first controversy in the area. Late last year, many members of the public were left furious when just a stone’s throw way at the Ossory Bridge, works were delayed for a number of months due to an unexpected hitch in development plans.