Local anger after years of delays on sunken road

A local councillor has voiced frustration that a one-way traffic system which was put in place as a "temporary" response to a sunken road surface in South Westmeath nearly three years ago remains in place to this day.

Cllr Frankie Keena said the "ongoing deterioration" of a section of the L-1427 Baylin to Mount Temple Road was continuing to cause significant inconvenience to motorists and cyclists in the area.

"After three years of disruption, the message from the local community is clear: enough is enough," said Cllr Keena. "The L-1427 needs to be permanently repaired before the rapidly approaching winter months come upon us."

The current traffic restrictions were put in place on the road, adjacent to Carn Park, at the beginning of 2024 when a sinkhole that had previously occurred on part of the road in 2016 reopened.

Earlier this year, councillors were told by Athlone Moate Municipal District management that there would be "no easy fix" to resolve the issue.

In June, responding to a question from Cllr John Dolan, council officials said "a geotechnical report" had identified a preferred solution which would involve "full reconstruction of the affected section, supported by drainage works to relieve groundwater pressure, including the installation of deep wells along both sides of the road".

The local authority said drainage works were planned for the summer, "with road reconstruction to follow subject to the success of these measures and the availability of funding".

This week, however, Cllr Keena said patience was running out locally.

"There is growing frustration amongst the community that a permanent solution has still not been delivered," he said. "This is an important route for the local community. It links residents with local schools, Caulry GAA, Mount Temple village, Moate, Athlone, while also being used by the local TFI Local Link bus service.

"There is also visible evidence on the road surface that vehicles are scraping their undercarriages while negotiating the uneven section, raising serious concerns about road safety and vehicle damage.

"I am aware of some public liability claims that have been submitted to the local authority following damage to vehicles," he added.

The Fianna Fáil councillor pointed out that he and other councillors had raised the matter at meetings on numerous occasions.

"At this stage I feel that enough is enough, and this section of road needs to be repaired as soon as possible before the winter months come in again," he concluded.