Rossadrehid road needs urgent attention warns Tipperary Town councillor
Councillor Annemarie Ryan said the road from Rossadrehid, serving the waterworks, needed urgent attention and called on Tipperary County Council to re-classify the road to get the work done.
“Following on from my visit to Rossadrehid, I spoke to the roads section in Nenagh and they confirmed that the road is categorised as a local tertiary road. Given its category, it will not be eligible for consideration in the next three-year roads restoration plan 2025/26/27,” explained Cllr Annemarie Ryan.
PRESSURE
“The three-year scheme only covers regional and local roads, not those categorised as local tertiary, neither does the same scheme cover all roads that need works. It’s a difficult decision every three years to decide which roads need to be prioritised. Given the pressure on the existing three-year programme, it is unlikely therefore, that under its current status the road would be upgraded to make this list.”
The definition of Local Tertiary Routes is: (A Local Tertiary Route (LTR) generally make up the remainder of the public road network and would constitute roads with very low traffic volumes, including cul-de-sac roads.)
“After visiting the road, I can see that the road in question is not a cul-de-sac, it is a horse-shoe shape beginning and ending in the village. Furthermore, it is questionable whether the road has very low traffic volumes. The residents tell me that there are artic lorries and tractors and trailers servicing the Rossadrehid Waterworks on a regular basis, as well as forestry HGV’s. In addition, the road serves as the main route to Lake Muskry Car park, which is in use all year round.
“Residents are urging the council to re-classify the road to a higher category as soon as possible and, for its inclusion in the three year roads programme,” stated Cllr Annemarie Ryan.
“Otherwise, the only other option is for those residents is to apply for road improvements under the Community Involvement Scheme where essentially, 90% of the cost of works are covered and residents must pay the remaining 10%. It is difficult to ask residents to pay for major road resurfacing when the route is much more than just a residential road. It is also reasonable to ask Coillte and Irish Water to financially contribute towards the scheme,” she said.
EMBARRASSING
Helen Morrissey, Aherlow Failte Society, said the road was a bit embarrassing given the area has visitors from other counties and abroad.
The Aherlow Failte Society are continually working hard to promote tourism and walking routes in the Glen of Aherlow. The L83213 road from Rossadrehid Village to the Waterworks is the main access point for walkers to visit Lake Muskry; one of the most accessible corrie lakes.
“A walk to Lake Muskry was part of our Winter Walking Festival routes and we had a bus load of people going up there,” explained Helen Morrissey, Aherlow Failte Society.
“We have visitors from other counties and abroad, travelling up that road that is advertised by us as with published maps and marked walking routes. People have two options when visiting Lake Muskry – either they park their car in Rossadrehid village and walk from there or they drive up and commence their walk from Rossadrehid waterworks.
“Either way, as the main route to Lake Muskry, the state of this road does reflect on the work that we do to promote tourism in the area,” she said.
A spokesperson for Tipperary County Council said consideration should be given to a CIS, (Community Involvement Scheme) Application, when this scheme opens to applications in mid to late 2023.