Barriers for Killegar Junction as road frequently floods

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke asked that Ballinamore Municipal District provide barriers along Road No L-1534-2 north of the Killegar Junction, "as this part of the road frequently floods presenting a difficulty for motorists in recognising where the roadside boundaries are. This measure is essential in the absence of a more long-term solution to the flooding." 
A report by the Roads office said that Leitrim County Council have containment systems along the L-1543-2 at bend locations and the section of local road that floods regularly is straight.

The response concluded: "We intend to apply for a Climate Action Scheme in 2024 along this section of local road to deal with both flooding issues at the Killegar Junction near Drumeela School."

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke said that as you go past Drumeela School towards Cavan, the issue is "if you find yourself in the middle of a flood and for any reason the car cuts out and you get out of your car, you can't know, in the dark, where the road boundary ends and you could step into two roadside drains."

He said for that reason, he wanted barriers at the location. 

District engineer, Darragh O'Boyle responded that the council have a Climate Action list specifically to deal with roads that are flooding and there are "also drainage grants from the department to deal specifically with roadside drainage so between both of those, we should be able to get funding for this section; it's raising the road."

Mr O'Boyle said that when the road is raised, other hazards that may be introduced have to be looked at. "So whether it's earth bunded or a barrier - barriers are very expensive - that will be considered. I'm aware of this issue. It's a flooding issue that happens around four times a year."

Cllr Callian Ellis asked if the council still carried out "land cuts and land drains" to tackle road flooding with Mr O'Boyle saying there "is an awful lot of work put upon us now such as road works, drainage works, OPW works, low cost safety works and Active Travel works. We still do land cuts on the regional roads."

Cllr O' Rourke said that when roads are resurfaced, around 18 inches is lost on either side and asked if these areas could be brought into use.

He added,  "if that continues, we'll end up maintaining a strip on the road where only one vehicle will be able to use it."

Mr O'Boyle said that bringing this area back into use "still won't make that a two-way road if it's a local road but we'll get to it when we have a grant on the road but can't be routinely cleaning the edge of the road; we'd get nothing else done; if I had 100 men to send out to do it I would, but in the meantime, I'll deal with the roads with issues on them and clean them."