Leitrim road “falling away” due to heavy timber trucks

A Leitrim road frequently used for timber transportation has been described as “falling away underneath” due to the strain of heavy vehicles.

Cllr Gary Prior asked the local authority to address the worsening condition of the road near Drumbibe crossroads in Aughnasheelin, and requested an inspection of the road to assess the extent and causes of the deterioration.

“It is a pretty dangerous there’s a huge subsidence and it’s down to heavy vehicles using the road,” Cllr Prior said. He also suggested considering a weight restriction to avoid further damage.

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However, district engineer Darragh O’Boyle expressed caution about imposing a weight restriction, emphasising that timber transport is a vital part of Leitrim’s economy. 

He noted that in the 1990s, the road was referred to as the “timber highway” due to the high number of timber haulage.

A response from the Roads department stated, “We will carry out an inspection on the local road, however, there is no grant applicable to either of these roads on the agreed 3 year roads programme.

Despite this, Mr O’Boyle advised Cllr Prior that funding could be sought through Climate Action Funding to install drainage pipe of approximately 40 metres, which may help alleviate the issue.

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