€517,000 in relief grants for Meath roads after recent severe weather
In the aftermath of recent severe weather events, Meath County Council is to receive Climate Change Adaptation Allocation grant of €517,000 to support remedial road works. This grant has been provided by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport under the July Jobs Stimulus Plan.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister for EU Affairs Thomas Byrne said, “Following the damage caused by severe weather events in recent weeks, this grant of over half a million euro is a timely boost to road repair across the county. It is clear that areas which rely upon minor roads to access local urban centres have been affected disproportionately by these natural disasters. In particular, the Riverstown road (L1002-37), Dunshaughlin (R125) and Greenoge, Donaghmore (R125) have experienced intense levels of erosion and this grant will help to address the damage for commuters this autumn.”
Minister Byrne continued: “While I welcome today’s announcement in support of our local road network, I am equally conscious of Meath's omission from the Active Travel Measures Allocations 2020 grant which is being distributed in tandem with the weather relief grant. As Meath's population continues to grow, I strongly believe that we should promote forward thinking infrastructural planning to include greater emphasis on cycle lanes, footpaths and other environmentally sustainable modes of transport.
Minister Byrne concluded, “At this sensitive time, as families prepare for the new school year, parents can be assured that this crucial road investment will make for a safer environment for their children’s daily journeys.”
Details of the investment to be allocated by Meath County Council are as follows:
· Riverstown road (L1002-37) - Remedial Works - Road is on a gradient and suffered from significant wash-out (down to formation level) along road edges following heavy rainfall events. - €100,000
· Dunshaughlin (R125) - Remedial works where roads have been significantly damaged by recent severe weather events. Overlay with SMA. - €110,000
· Greenogue, Donaghmore (R125) - Broadmeadow River (floodplain) is making the embankment of the R125 road unstable causing gradual slippage of the embankment over a 100m long section. It is causing longitudinal cracking and slippage of the surface course on the R125. - €15,000
· R151 Mornington (R151) - Altering the level of the road to mitigate flooding and reduce road closure frequency. Three separate sections of the R151 become impassable due to high tides and storm surges. - €142,000
· Trim ring road (R-160-1) - Remedial works due to severe damage done by Storm Emma and subsequent severe weather events. - €150,000