Council to undertake “a full review of the road network” after blistering heat

 

 

As the temperatures across the county begin to fall from last week's highs road temperatures in Cavan are returning to normal.

Last week the local authority deployed its outdoor crews to grit many of the county’s roads, which experienced bubbling due to the constant high temperatures.

The issue of melting tar has resulted in a significant deteriorations of many driving surfaces in the county.

Flooding earlier in the year coupled with the searing heat have caused many potholes. The abnormally high temperatures caused many roads to show signs of distress with tar bubbling. This is particularly the case on smaller surface dressed roads on regional roads, local and secondary routes.

A statement from Cavan County Council said a number of roads have been affected by the weather conditions: “[Roads] are currently being treated by council crews to limit the damage caused by the high temperatures. Cavan has a road network of over 3,000km in length so it will take time to ascertain the full impact of the present weather conditions.”

The council says it is not possible to determine the final cost of road repairs given that remedial work is ongoing and the high temperatures are set to continue for the immediate future.

Central government are yet to make any provision for repairs and Cavan County Council has not received word of any additional government funding in relation to damage to the road network due to high temperatures.

 

Council engineers told the Celt: “The type of damage caused by flooding is completely different to that sustained in hot weather, but again, an accurate comparison is not possible until this hot spell concludes and a full review of the road network can take place.”

Cavan County Council have deployed gritters to treat the roads affected by the current weather and is making preparations to deploy additional resources if needed for similar events later in the summer.