N24 in Carrick-on-Suir dug up only months after resurfacing due to water main leaks

Uisce Éireann has come under fire for not replacing an old water main under the N24 in Carrick-on-Suir when the route was undergoing a €6.8m upgrade last year as a section of the newly resurfaced road had to be dug up in recent weeks to repair leaks in the pipe.

The utility did replace a number of old water mains before and during the Carrick-on-Suir N24 Pavement & Road Safety Scheme where 3.8km of the N24 running through the town was upgraded including the laying of a new surface and installation of a range of safety features.

But local councillor David Dunne is angry Uisce Éireann didn’t replace a water main under the Pill Road section of the national route in the town that has burst twice in the space of three weeks just months after the road was resurfaced.

The Sinn Féin councillor highlighted the problem at the April meetings of Tipperary County Council and Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District councillors.

“The €6.8m project was absolutely fantastic but unfortunately we have had a number of leaks on the N24 in Carrick recently and there are now four patches on the road,” he told Carrick MD’s meeting in Carrick-on-Suir Town Hall last Thursday.

SHOCKED

“It’s my understanding that the water pipe undergound was never replaced when the work was being done. I am shocked by that.”

He reminded Council management that a huge amount of money was spent on covering the N24 in Carrick with new black top tarmac only for it to be dug up again soon after.

He also highlighted that it was noticeable where the quality of the road reinstatement works were good on the N24 and where they weren’t done well.

Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Engineer Denis Power responded that he contacted Uisce Éireann to see if this water main can be replaced so that this newly resurfaced section of the N24 wouldn’t have to be dug up again to repair further leaks.

He said he also met Uisce Éireann representatives in relation to road reinstatements.

Mr Power stressed that reinstatement works have to be agreed with the Council before they are done and Uisce Éireann has to liaise with the Council and abide by its reinstatement works guidelines.