Arklow cracking under the strain

April 1997

ARKLOW will be seeking millions of pounds in damages from the NRA after the construction of a £40 million bypass motorway.

The NRA additional funding will be needed to repair Arklow’s existing road network which is breaking up under the heavy traffic involved in working on the bypass.

Independent councillor Nicky Kelly warned last week that this heavy traffic, which is causing structural damage to houses as well as their roads, will only be reaching its peak over the coming weeks and months.

A meeting of town and county councillors from the Arklow area last week heard that Vale Road, Beech Road and Emoclew Road, as well as the alternative N11 and roads in the bottom of the town are already showing signs of cracking under the strain.

Fine Gael councillor Tom Honan said that he received a lot of complaints from people who were experiencing discomfort, particularly in relation to dirty roads because of construction works. But he pointed out that some of this discomfiture is also being caused by private developments taking place in town.

Cllr Nicky Kelly said the problem of damage to houses from the heavy traffic traversing the town roads was a particular major one in relation to Arklow’s older houses.

He was supported by Cllr Nancy Quinn who is particularly worried about the damage being caused to houses in the lower end of the town.

She has been in some of these houses and witnessed first hand what is happening.

Council chairman Tom Clandillon said that the breakdown of their roads is becoming very evident. The Vale Road is sinking. Major structural funds will be needed to put Arklow’s roads back in order again. Co Engineer Michael Looby said that they had raised this issue with the NRA with a view to getting money for the repair of roads after the bypass is completed.