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COUNTY COUNCILS in the southwest yesterday apologised to motorists for delays and disruption this summer.
However, they defended the carrying out of major roadworks during the busiest part of the season in or near major tourist regions.
Fine weather and the need to spend national budget allocations were advanced as reasons.
In Cork, roadworks are being carried out at Ballyvourney on the N22 route from Cork city to Killarney. Motorists are experiencing delays of up to 15 minutes.
Major roadworks are also taking place in east Cork between Youghal and Midleton, causing severe disruption to traffic.
In Limerick, motorists are experiencing delays in Newcastle West and near the tourist village of Adare, while in Kerry there are delays as a result of roads programmes in Listowel and elsewhere.
Budget allocations from the Department of Transport and the National Roads Authority had to be drawn down and spent by certain deadlines, and this was a major consideration in scheduling works, a spokesman for Limerick County Council said. He added that any delays were unfortunate.
Cork County Council, which is spending some €42 million on roadworks this year, said the major consideration in its programme was “not just the national road allocation”.
“Resurfacing has to take place in fine weather. We apologise for the delays but the work is necessary. We try to minimise the disruption where possible,” said a spokesman.
The council spent “100 per cent” of its annual budget each year and contributed money from its own resources to resurfacing and other works, the spokesman said.
The roadworks have come in for criticism from tourists and locals travelling to Kerry.
A senior engineer in Kerry County Council said the roads department could not shut down because of the tourist season, and the works in Listowel were scheduled to finish before the annual race meeting in mid-September.
Other major resurfacing works are planned for the N22 near Killarney, but these would not be starting before mid-September, the engineer said.
ANNE LUCEY The Irish Times – Saturday, August 20, 2011
Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)
The athletes race to the water at the start of the annual Triathlon on Youghal beach
Over 300 competitors took part in the 8th Annual Youghal Triathlon held on Claycastle Beach. Starting at the Front Strand Youghal with a 750m swim followed by 19km on bike and finishing with a 6.5km run back at the start/ finish line on the strand.
Mark Dempsey from Limerick Triathlon was the winner in a time of 1hour 3minutes. Leading Lady was Elizabeth Lee, a Cork woman, running for the Piranha Club in Dublin. In a time of 1:14.
Youghal athletes also featured. Leading Youghal man was Brian Sanders 1:15 in 39th place, Vincent Lucey was Read more
