Update in relation to the Ballybeg Road, Clarecastle
The deplorable and unsafe condition of the Ballybeg Road is finally to be addressed by Clare County Council this week.
I have raised this issue repeatedly over many years and am happy that finally this work is being carried out.
Below please find latest replies which I received from Clare County Council
From: “Eamon ODea”
Malone Construction (contractors for the Group Sewerage Scheme) have started to prepare the lower section of Ballybeg Road for the permanent restoration of the trench area with bituminous macadam. We are informed by the macadam contractor working on behalf of Malone Construction that this work will be done on Tuesday June 9th. CCC contractor RMS will be on site next week (8th to 12th June) and the exact day is dependent on completion of works in Tipperary. RMS will be applying a thin surface layer coating to the Ballybeg Road similar to work at Clarecastle/Tulla Road Ennis. This work will provide a more even wearing surface on the road without raising the road level significantly. This work will be carried out from the Water Tower through to the end of the Group Sewerage Scheme. The Council will observe the condition of the road in the area of the group sewerage scheme and will surface dress this road in July if required. I wish to outline the reasons for the difference between the road construction from Ballybeg Water Tower towards the Kilrush Road and the road in the direction of the Kildysart Road. The works from the Water Tower towards the Kilrush Road was constructed using a combination of Specific Improvement Grant and Restoration Improvement Grant Funding in the Road Works Programme Grants from the Department of Transport. The level of all funding is much reduced and the Specific Improvement Scheme Funding supplied to the Council is correctly prioitised at this time for the repair of masonry bridges on the road network. The Drehidnagower Bridge in Lifford is in receipt of €200,000 this year and refurbishment is underway at present. Therefore we are not in a position to provide footpaths and asphalt road surfacing. Regards Eamon
Eamon O’Dea
Senior Executive Engineer
From: Robert Burns
Dear Deputy Carey
I acknowledge receipt of your representations in relation to the Ballybeg Road (L4176), from the junction with the Kildysart Road to the water tower, a section of road approx. 1.1 km in length. One of the fundamental issues on this section of road is the provision of adequate road drainage measures, which we are currently addressing, so as to ensure that future road resurfacing works are long-lasting and sustainable. At present we are carrying out drainage works at the west end of this section of road (end nearest the water tower), to address an ongoing drainage problem, and works should be completed in the coming days. It is intended in the next 6 to 9 months that a section of the road 750 m in length, from the water tower eastwards, will be resurfaced. This would leave approximately 450 m of road to be resurfaced in 2016, or earlier, if resources permit. In relation to the east end of this section of road (Ballybeg stream end), Clare County Council through the Roads section have made provision with the ESB to have 3 No. ESB poles near Ballybeg stream shifted inwards to facilitate the laying of the Ballybeg GSS upgrade and also to facilitate the future construction of footpaths. We are also working with the Ballybeg GSS upgrade appointed contractor to see if road drainage infrastructure in the vicinity of the GSS upgrade works can be enhanced and improved without involving excessive cost. Also, the GSS upgrade contractor, under the terms of the contract and the road opening licence is required to reinstate any section of road that is excavated. It must be borne in mind that road grant funding received by Clare County Council essentially covers ongoing maintenance of the roadway and that funding is generally not sufficient for the provision of new footpaths. Should specific funding become available for new footpath works, this would be extremely beneficial. Otherwise, the Council will need to examine discretionary funding available in 2015, in line with maintenance requirements and priorities, to see if new footpath construction works at this location can be carried out.
Regards
Robert Burns
Executive Engineer for Roads
