Cllr Moloney: “I’m hopeful Will Street disruption will be minimal”

THE announcement that William St is to shut day and night for ten weeks starting from the Monday after the Races does not necessarily mean it will be shut to traffic on a continual basis, County Cllr Jimmy Moloney said.

It’s expected the first two weeks of the major overhaul of the street will take place on the lower half of William Street, from Scully’s Corner up towards the Market Street junction.

“But if, say, the work then transfers to above near Jumbos for the following two weeks it is entirely possible that there will be access to Market St from lower William St at certain times,” Cllr Moloney said.

The Council was merely legally obliged to provide notice of a ten-week shutdown, and the job - being carried out by a private contractor on behalf of the State, Gas Networks Ireland and Irish Water – could well be wrapped up before the 10 weeks lapse.

Pedestrian access will not be blocked on William Street in the period.

“The ten-week period is the maximum length of time it will take, but with private contractors carrying it out they will be eager to complete the job as quickly as possible,” Cllr Moloney said.

Meanwhile, Church Street is to operate as a two-way route for the duration of the work, with parking completely restricted on the left-hand side of the road (the Garda Station side of the road).

Trucks heading north through Listowel will be urged to drive all the way up to the Tim Kennelly roundabout before taking either the John B Keane Road or Caherdown road.

It is not yet clear, however, how the junctions with Colbert St and Courthouse Road will be operated at this point, with further details of the temporary traffice management arrangements expected to emerge in the coming weeks.

Engineer James Fealey has been appointed the scheme liason figure with the community, available to answer traders’ and towns peoples’ queries and concerns as the weeks progress.

56 car parking spaces will be out of action as well between upper William Street and Church Street, so motorists are advised to consider other car parks.

While traders have welcomed the long-sought improvement scheme, a handful are put out that the work is taking place in the run-up to the busy Christmas period rather than early next year. Cllr Moloney explained however that the work had to be completed in 2016 to secure the funding and that no other time of the year was suitable.

“We will know a lot more about the finer details in the coming weeks, but I would be hopeful that disruption will be kept to a minimum. It’s very positive to see €600,000 being spent on the town. Listowel is in great nick at the moment, and this will make a huge difference to the town.”