Relief at last for motorists

June 2008

Wicklow’s traffic congestion and parking problems should receive a much-needed boost with work due to start on Fitzwilliam Road and the demolition of St. Manntan’s House.

Fitzwilliam Road has been shut for years after a rock fall damaged the road and wall, while St. Manntan’s House will make way for the new town hall.

owever, in the interim it’s envisaged that the St. Manntan’s site will act as a temporary car park to free up extra space in the town.

Demolition work on the building was due to start yesterday (Tuesday, August 5) weather permitting.

‘Fitzwilliam Road is badly needed and it’s nice to get some good news for a change,’ said Mayor John O’Brien.

‘It’s been shut for so long now and just opening the road should help free up traffic in town.

‘Everything now just depends on what sort of traffic will be allowed use the road and we should know that soon.’

Originally St. Manntan’s House was going to act as an extra car park once demolished so additional spaces would be available while work was being carried out on the planned multi-storey car park on Abbey Street.

This will still go ahead despite the fact that it now looks highly unlikely that the council will be able to go ahead with the sanctioning of €10 million for the project unless the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has a change of heart.