Enterprise Ireland
Sisk
Pictured (L to r): Marcus O’Connor, Director of Service, Tipperary County Council; Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive, Tipperary County Council; Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council; Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan; Cllr Roger Kennedy, Cathaoirleach, Tipperary County Council; Carmel Kirby, Director of Physical Development, Clare County Council; Seán Lenihan, Senior Engineer, Clare County Council; and Cllr Tony O’Brien, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council. Photograph by Eamon Ward

John Sisk & Son has been named as the main contractor for the new Killaloe Bypass. The project will provide a western bypass around Killaloe, a new bridge crossing of the River Shannon and an upgrade of the existing R494 regional road from Ballina to Birdhill. The scheme is over 6km long and will cross the River Shannon approximately 1km downstream of the existing Killaloe Bridge.

The project team, led by Clare County Council, with Tipperary County Council and the Department of Transport and scheme consultants RPS Consulting Engineers, has been progressing the delivery of this significant piece of infrastructure for the mid-west region over the past number of years.

The scheme comprises three sections as follows:

  • Killaloe Bypass – This part of the scheme aims to create a western bypass around the town of Killaloe, which will connect the R463 to the north of the town with the proposed Shannon Bridge Crossing section and the R463 to the south of the town.
  • Shannon Bridge Crossing – This section of the scheme will cross the River Shannon approximately 1km south of the existing Killaloe Bridge and connect the proposed Killaloe Bypass with the R494 at a new roundabout at Roolagh.
  • R494 Upgrade – This section will involve widening, regrading and local realignment of the R494 from the aforementioned new roundabout at Roolagh to its junction with the R445 (former N7) north of Birdhill.
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The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, recently turned the sod for the scheme, which followed the formal contract signing between Clare County Council and Sisk.

John O’Connor, Regional Director, John Sisk & Son, said: “Sisk is delighted to be selected as the main contractor for this vital new infrastructure improvement project which, when complete, will significantly upgrade the current roads network in both County Clare and County Tipperary. Sisk has considerable experience delivering similar schemes at this scale.”

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