Anger over Moyvane roadworks
GAS Networks Ireland (GNI) has promised better signage in Moyvane and will allow nighttime use of the roads they’re working on after meeting with people of the area in the Marian Hall last week.
GNI is laying a transmission line from the Limerick county bounds through Moyvane to Listowel town.
But there has been anger locally at matters like a drop-off in trade at businesses in Moyvane, difficulties accessing the village, and the quality of signage indicating detours, according to local man Nelius O’Connor.
A section of water-main in the area also had to be removed, cutting off supply to six houses. But after being reinstated, the water-main sustained damage during backfilling operations and the supply had to be shut down again. Subsequent to repairs, machinery was left blocking one of the roads, KCC added.
But following last week’s meeting organised by GNI in Moyvane and discussions between GNI and KCC Engineer David Doyle, GNI has said it will join local representatives in reviewing the roads marked for diversion and promised to take machinery off a number of by-roads. It has relocated enhanced road signage at key junctions near Moyvane. Nelius O’Connor acknowledged that “they’d come a long way in three days.”
John Kennelly organised a further meeting with Irish Water, which took place in Tralee Council Chamber on Monday. The utility has said that it will review the condition of the water main this week with Kerry County Council to examine if it’s feasible to replace at this time.
GNI said its current programme of works is expected to end in October, but Eirgrid is due to lay cables at the same stretch thereafter. Representatives from Eirgrid and ESB Networks were also present at Monday’s meeting.
“An application for works on the water-main has gone in to Irish Water and the costings of that project are being looked into,” Councillor Aoife Thornton said. “I’d encourage the people of Moyvane to contact Irish Water to boost the chances of that work going ahead, If it does, I would like to see the least amount of inconvenience possible to the people of Moyvane with Eirgrid and Irish Water undertaking their works at the same time or at least in quick succession – that to me is common sense.
“The gas project is an enormous benefit to Moyvane, while works on the water-mains would also be very welcome, but we need to balance the rewards and the drawbacks.”