Pothole-laden roads putting lives at risk

A RECENT journey from Galway to Cork was little more than a lottery as motorists had to dodge deep potholes, and oncoming motorists trying to do the same without either breaking an axle, bursting a tyre, or crashing.

During the 209km journey I witnessed seven motorists pulled over repairing tyres that had come a cropper in these craters caused by the recent icy conditions and heavy rain.

Included on the route, at Charleville, were a string of potholes on the northside of town forcing motorists into the centre of the road and, in Buttevant, a very deep pothole at the quarry entrance on the southside of town, resulting in two cars pulled in repairing tyres.

On the Mallow road, there was a large pothole at the start of a passing lane, forcing slow traffic into faster traffic in a passing lane. In Sunday’s Well, there is a two-foot deep pothole at Calvary monument and a very deep pothole and trench on Wellington Bridge in Cork. This list is neither comprehensive nor complete, but this is an urgent priority for government.

The National Roads Authority, city and county councils across the country need to repair the basic road surface before people are killed.

Barry Keane

Glendalough Park

Cork