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Road collapse cuts children off
from school
21.05.13
by Linda McGrory
MORE than 120 Carndonagh children have been cut off
from their primary school after flooding caused a
road to collapse leaving a 30-foot drop to the river
below.
A large section of road at Craigtown, Carndonagh,
crumbled on Saturday evening following a day of
torrential rain.
The collapse has forced 126 pupils to undertake a
three-mile detour on a narrow by-road to get to
their desks at Craigtown National School. |
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The road at Craigtown, Carndonagh,
that collapsed during Saturday's flooding cutting
126 children off from their school. |
Local T.D., Charlie
McConalogue has appealed to Donegal County Council
to make emergency funding available to reconstruct
the road.
"The damage to the road is of a very serious nature
with flooding in the adjacent river tearing away the
road and leaving a sheer embankment with a 30-foot
drop to the river bank," said Deputy McConalogue.
"The alternative route to the school is very
unsuited to two-way traffic and is not safe for the
amount of traffic that is in the area at the start
and finish of the school day."
School principal, Gerard O'Kane said he
hoped the road would be restored as soon as
possible.
"The torrential rain here on Saturday was unreal -
it was relentless. As a result of the road
collapsing, we're now having to do a detour every
day to get to our school," said Mr O'Kane.
"But I think Donegal County Council is on top of the
situation and they hope to get it fixed within a
couple of weeks.
"In the meantime, I believe the council may have
come to some arrangement with a local farmer
regarding making a by-pass through his land while
the road is being fixed."
Deputy McConalogue added: "I have been in touch with
the council to press upon them the urgency of
identifying funding for the work and of having
reconstruction works initiated as soon as possible."
Donegal County Council today said in a statement: “A
new road will have to be reconstructed along a 170m
section in the vicinity of the collapse. This
solution will also involve placing 2m high concrete
gabions along this section of road to protect from
further erosion.
“Donegal County Council is in contact with the
relevant landowners in relation to facilitating
these works. Works will start once agreements have
been reached and materials sourced. In the interim
Donegal County Council will patch up the diversion
route being used by the school traffic.” |
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