Erosion at ‘The Rock’ leaves road ‘liable to subside’
While council works to the bridge on the Tourin Knockanore road were commended at this week’s Dungarvan Lismore Municipal meeting, a greater issue was outlined as erosion is now seen to be undercutting the road, leaving locals in fear that it may collapse.
Images shared with The Avondhu depict a white steel ladder in the foreground used last summer by fishermen to access the river from the bank where it was anchored at low tide. Its anchor point has now however been washed away over the winter.
Locals have also pointed out that the road is now being undercut by river erosion with fears that the road could collapse under the weight of a heavy truck.
“Erosion under that road continues. I do know that there was work there carried out previously. That erosion is still happening and it is in need of major works going forward, as well that rock armoury or whatever work might need to be done there,” said local councillor, John Pratt.
Senior executive engineer with Waterford City and County Council, Gabriel Hynes, told the council that a lot of rock armouring works were carried out in the area last year to deal with the erosion with works also being carried out on the ‘most critical parts of the road’.
“Obviously we would welcome additional resources to do additional rock armouring works there and look, we haven’t currently, they’re not available in our current resources but under maybe climate adaptation in the next few years, we may get resources to do additional work there,” Mr Hynes said.
‘MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE’
Speaking with The Avondhu, Cllr John Pratt noted that there was previously a grass area which locals recalled cows grazing on and where hay was once cut along the stretch of the bank. However, this was seriously eroded during the last flood.
“It’s at the stage now where it is starting to erode under the road. More needs to be done, this is a serious serious problem and the road is liable to subside,” Cllr Pratt said.
Flooding has also been a major issue along this stretch of road near what is locally known as ‘The Rock’ just beyond the red bridge, as highlighted at the meeting by Cllr Declan Doocey.
“That road needs to be raised to the height of the wall to make it accessible to our fire brigades, ambulances, doctors and emergency services when the River Blackwater floods, which happens nearly every winter now.
“That’s a very important issue, when the flood is around we are isolated from the rest of Waterford, it’s that serious,” Cllr Doocey said.
Cllr Doocey commended the work of the council and ‘ an expert stonemason’, which is currently being done in the repairs to the wall on the road, but noted that it is a ‘bad investment’ if the wall will be covered up in future through the raising of the road.
FUNDS NOT AVAILABLE
In response to queries regarding the flooding of the road, Mr Hynes noted that alternative routes are in place so that locals are not locked in by floodwaters when the road is flooded.
While Mr Hynes noted that raising the road would be the council’s ‘long term priority’ he added that funds for these works are not currently available.
“While I acknowledge there is a flooding issue there, again that funding isn’t in our current resources, it’s something that may come under climate adaptation. The works we are currently doing there at the moment won’t be affected by it, if we raise the road level there,” Mr Hynes added.