Limerick planning to pedestrianise O'Connell St

Limerick city council is planning to pedestrianise part of O'Connell Street in Limerick city centre.

Limerick city council is planning to pedestrianise part of O'Connell Street in Limerick city centre.

Director of transport with the local authority, Pat Dromey, confirmed that plans are under way for the pedestrianisation of the streetfrom the junction at William Street up to Roche's Street.

This follows the recent pedestrianisation in the city centre of Bedford Row and part of Thomas Street, which were completed in December 2006.

The rest of Thomas Street and Little Catherine Street are due to be completed by mid-June.

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Plans for the pedestrianisation of a section of O'Connell Street will be put on public display in the coming weeks, according to the city council.

"There will be extensive consultation with all the stakeholders before we advance the planning process and we are hopeful that work on the pedestrianisation of O'Connell Street will start in the autumn," said Mr Dromey. "But an integral part of pedestrianising O'Connell Street it the proposed inner orbital route of the city that will take the diverted traffic, and this will also be put on public display in the new year," he added.

Thomas Street business woman Siobhán Clifford, who owns the Exit store, said traders are delighted with the first phase of pedestrianisation of their street which finished on December 8th.

"It looks fabulous and there has definitely been a pick-up in trade since the works finished. We are getting more passing trade as people come back into the street," said Ms Clifford.

"The disruption throughout the year was difficult on traders but the end result is definitely worth it. No pain, no gain.

"I am delighted to hear that parts of O'Connell Street are going to be pedestrianised because it will complement the work done in Thomas Street and Bedford Row," Ms Clifford added.