THE deadline for the completion of €9.1 million revitalisation works on O’Connell Street, which were due to be finished this week, have now been pushed back once again.
The much-delayed project includes widened footpaths, improved lighting and street furniture, upgraded crossings, and the planting of new trees and shrubs. These changes are expected not only to improve the aesthetics of the city centre but also to make its main thoroughfare more accessible.
The Council had said earlier this year that the works were anticipated to be finished by Easter. Then in a statement in April, a council spokesman said it is anticipated that the project would be fully completed in May.
This week, the completion date was moved again.
“Works on O’Connell street to remaining areas will be completed by mid-June. Localised snagging work will take place as needed thereafter,” a Council spokesman revealed.
According to the Council, street cleaning works will also take place on O’Connell Street, after complaints reported in the Limerick Post by local businesses in the area over “grease stains” being left on the pavement by local fast food chains.
In response, the Council stated: “A maintenance plan for the cleaning of O’Connell Street has been finalised and the process of approving the appointment of additional staff to establish a dedicated cleaning crew for the street is currently in progress. In the interim, a contractor has been requested to do a complete clean of the street as soon as possible.”
According to a Council spokesman, the contractor will begin cleaning O’Connell Street this coming Tuesday (June 6) for two nights.
“He will return the following week to complete the works,” the spokesman concluded.
