A South-East Clare road has experienced ‘dramatic deterioration’ but will not be included in this year’s roads programme.

Cllr Michael Begley (IND) put forward the case for the overlay of the L-3058 from O’Connors Cross to Clonlara to be included in the 2021 roads programme in a proposal submitted to a recent sitting of the Shannon Municipal District. “This highly trafficked road has deteriorated dramatically over the last few years,” he flagged, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) seconded the proposal.

Senior executive engineer, Tom Mellett confirmed that the road was not included in the programme for this year. “Should additional funds above our 2020 allocation become available this road will be considered,” he advised.

Prior to the redrawing of electoral boundaries, Cllr Begley was a member of the Killaloe Municipal District up until 2019 and he recalled a comment from former senior engineer Hugh McGrath less than a decade ago stating the need for the restructuring of the road.

There are 25 road openings on the route, the Clonlara representative highlighted. “that is in addition to the continuous break up to the left edge of this road driving from west to east”. Prompt repair of potholes “as they occur on that road” by Shannon MD staff was praised by Begley. “The traffic count on this road is greater than a lot of regional roads even though it is classified as a local road. It has been dramatically deteriorating over the last couple of years”.

Criteria for inclusion hasn’t been met, Mellett responded. “This would be the top of the B list if we were to substitute roads in”. He acknowledged that improvements were required but highlighted additional funding would be needed.