You are here

Gallagher: Frost cutting up badly maintained roads

SDLP Regional Development spokesperson Tommy Gallagher said the first serious frosts of the winter are exposing the inadequacy of our roads network and the urgent need for a more systematic approach to funding maintenance.

Mon 21st December

He said: “Gritting is everyone’s priority right now, and we must wait and see whether the improved gritting promised by Minister Conor Murphy will extend to all the black spots identified last winter. But frost, ice and snow are also damaging a road network already compromised by lack of long-term funding.

 

“Around Fermanagh I can see that roads which were top-dressed with tar and chips during the year are already showing signs of rutting, pot-holing and breaking edges. The Department of Regional Development is now spending almost as much on patching as it is on structural maintenance.

 

“At current rates, resurfacing of minor roads which make up 60% of our total road network will happen  once in every 187 years.  In Fermanagh 49% of the trunk road network has a residual life of less than five years.  

 

“We are heading for a roads disaster which will have a major negative impact on our economy, not to mention road safety. Even in a recession, roads must have a higher funding priority for the good of our whole society. The Executive cannot make the economy our big thing while at the same time ignoring the crisis for our entire roads structure.”

Back to Latest News

Filed Under:

You are here