Freeze causes damage worth millions of euro to Cork's roads

Cork County Council's director of roads said snow continues to lie on rural roads in the northwest of the county

A snow-covered Broad Street in Charleville last week. The Charleville area was one of worst hit during the recent freeze. Picture: Dan Linehan

Millions of euros of damage has been done to roads all across Cork county as a result of last week's big freeze.

Cork County Council is to carry out an assessment of the full extent of the damage during the next two weeks and then submit a report to government seeking financial aid to pay for repairs.

Padraig Barrett, the council’s director of roads and transportation, told the Irish Examiner that initial surveys of roads show the damage “is going to be millions” and it’s not just confined to north and northwest of the county.

Mr Barrett said snow continues to lie on several rural roads in western Duhallow which, along with the Charleville area, was worst hit.

He said heavy rain in other parts of the county had caused damage “along with persistent freezing and thawing” in several areas which is cracking road surfaces.

Mr Barrett provided a comprehensive report to councillors relating to the local authority’s actions during the cold snap, which had included spreading 4,500 tonnes of salt.

The council also deployed teams to focus on known flood risk areas to erect flood barriers, install pumping equipment, and sandbags.

On the weekend of January 4 and 5, 71mm of rainfall was recorded at a weather station at Sherkin Island, while 47mm was recorded at Moorepark, near Fermoy.

The rain front pushing up from the south soon collided with Arctic air and snow started falling.

Mr Barrett said that 50cm of snow fell in the Kanturk and Charleville areas.

The council deployed “25 snow ploughs, salters and gritters and the army provided two snow ploughs,” which were used on priority routes and to clear town centres.

Snow covering the fields at Ballydesmond on the Cork/Kerry border. Picture: Dan Linehan

“There is still significant snowfall accumulated in the northwest of the county, and it will take days for it to disappear,” Mr Barrett said. There are still several roads which have just one lane open.

Mr Barrett said the weight of snow contributed to a considerable number of trees falling across the county.

The council operated a 24/7 emergency contact centre for the duration of the big freeze, receiving 372 calls for help. 

Council crews also dealt with “a considerable number of calls” for help from ESB Networks, Uisce Éireann, the HSE and gardaí for “essential services, medical, or welfare issues.”

Charleville-based Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle said it was the worst snow recorded in his area since 1968.

He praised council workers, the fire brigade, army, gardaí, voluntary and community groups and farmers who helped out.

“We brought in contractors and they did a fantastic job. We need to get extra funding from government as it’s hugely costly to us with damage to roads and the cost of employing contractors,” Mr Doyle said.

At the request of Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan, council chief executive Moira Murrell said they’d write to every council outdoor worker thanking them for their efforts.

Ms Murrell said the council will review its response to the weather event to see if it can do even better if it’s repeated.