Reversing one way system in Limerick will cut traffic jams, says councillor

A COUNCILLOR believes reversing the one-way system on a narrow city centre street will help reduce traffic bottlenecks.

Fianna Fail councillor Fergus Kilcoyne wants to see cars be allowed to travel through Fox’s Bow from Thomas Street to William Street instead of in the other direction.

As it stands, vehicles can only pass from its entrance on William Street across to Thomas Street - and access is only between 6am and 11am Monday to Saturday.

It’s closed other than this five-hour period, the council wrote to Cllr Kilcoyne.

But he said: “The traffic backs up in Thomas Street with people going home from shopping.”

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He has blamed this on Wickham Street also being busy at peak times because of the change from two-way traffic to one-way amid the installation of a bike lane.

“Traffic (from Thomas Street) needs to cut into Wickham Street as the traffic coming from Parnell Street has the right of way. So it’s hard to get off Thomas Street,” said Cllr Kilcoyne.

Traffic in Wickham Street, he said, is backing down to Colbert station.

He wants to see a survey undertaken to see if its feasible.

Council said traffic is restricted in Fox’s Bow to allow for adequate space for pedestrians, and pointed to the access provided into Thomas Street from Wickham Street.