West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Mc Nulty praises Roads Service response to footpath/pothole damage caused by ice and snow

Published: 4 February, 2010

Bridge Street footpath under repair.

Bridge Street footpath under repair.

Sinn Féin Councillor Jarlath Mc Nulty has praised Roads Service for moving swiftly to begin the task of repairing the substantial damage that has been caused to roads and footpaths throughout Strabane District during the prolonged period of ice and snow.

He said,

Since the ice and snow has receded, Sinn Fein has been inundated with complaints about potholes having sprung up on roads throughout the District as well as cracked and damaged footpaths. We have been relaying these issues to Roads Service and to its credit, it has already engaged contractors who are now engaged it a major operation to repair the damage which has been caused.

"The footpath on Strabane Bridge and adjoining Bridge Street is one of the most visual examples of the damage that has been caused. As these footpath surfaces have aged, they have become more absorbent and water has penetrated the surface through cracks caused by heavy pedestrian use. When the temperatures plunged, the water froze, expanding and causing the surface to rupture. When the ice and snow melted, it left a void below the surface, which caved in under the stress.

"Work is now well underway to repair this, the busiest pedestrian thoroughfare in the town and I have been assured that work will continue apace both in the town and in rural areas to fill potholes and repair footpaths.

"Roads Minister Conor Murphy has made additional monies available to finance this remedial work and I would encourage people to report potholes or damage that have been caused to footpaths in your area as a result of the receding ice and snow so that the financing of these remedial repairs can be secured from this additional money allocation so as to not have to dip into the fixed roads maintenance budget at a later date thus impacting on scheduled works".