Longford's highest section of road to be included in winter maintenance programme

The issue was raised at the December meeting of the local authority by Cllr Garry Murtagh.

Cllr Murtagh had already raised the issue at Municipal District level and said the poor weather condition of the last week had made the matter very relevant: “From the start of my term as an elected representative a commitment was given to the people to seek the salting of the road from Esker to Aughnacliffe.”

The Fine Gael representative said during the freezing conditions the L1036 posed a difficulty for motorists: “This rout can be very busy, it is used by students going to national and secondary schools in the area. There have been a number of accidents on it and it is important that when the weather is poor that they are salted and gritted.”

It is Council policy to attempt to maintain the principal roads within the county open for traffic and free from ice at all times. Longford County Council liaised with adjoining local authorities and NRA contractors to coordinate on routes that cross county boundaries.

The first priority are the National Primaries and National Secondary in the county and the identified salted routes.

The salt treatment system is concentrated primarily on the National Road Network and strategic Regional Roads (Priority 1) is primarily based on the Road DSS system ice prediction software put in place by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Cllr Murtahg's motion was seconded by Cathairleacht Turlough McGovern. Cllr Murtagh was happy with the support his proposal received: “Director of Services, Samantha Healy, committed to implementing the logistics necessary to include the most elevated and treacherous road in Longford to the programme.”