Roads like surface of the moon and no giant leap to fix them

THE state of our roads was once again raised at Stormont - with the Maytown Road, Bessbrook, said to be looking like the surface of the moon.

The sorry state of the road was raised by DUP MLA for Newry and Armagh, Gareth Wilson.

Addressing the Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins - who is also an MLA for the area - Mr Wilson said:

“In my own constituency and yours, of course, I viewed today photographs of the Maytown Road, and it really did resemble the surface of the moon, to be quite honest, in terms of what we were able to view with car headlights casting shadows, and indeed, it was a very concerning sight for the motor in public.

“And minister...would it be a small step, or a giant leap for you to declare a roads emergency?”

Responding, the Minister said, “I don't know what the criteria is for a roads emergency, because I think this is something that has been coming up time and time again.

“However, what I’m focused on is solutions and finding ways to actually deal with the issues that we are facing, both in the short medium and long term, because I think that’s the only way we are going to see real progress in this.

“We can all give examples of where work needs to happen. 
For me, it’s about how do we make that happen. So that’s what I’m doing. That’s what I'm working with officials on, and that's what I'm committed to doing in the long term. “

Ulster Unionist Councillor in Newry, Mourne and Down, has also expressed his concern about the Maytown Road.

In a statement he said, “I have held discussions in recent days with senior local roads officials regarding the unacceptable condition of roads in our district. I have an extensive list where I am making ongoing representations on.

“The Maytown Road in Bessbrook is one of those roads that I have been increasingly concerned about and been making representations on.

“I have received written confirmation that a full inspection has now commenced on Maytown Road which will identify the various potholes/defects on it at present and necessary repairs must take place as soon as possible thereafter.

“I am very worried by the poor and worsening condition of our local roads infrastructure.

“As a public representative, I am reporting defects across the local road network on a daily basis. There is an obvious and urgent need for the Department for Infrastructure to do much more to prioritise resurfacing and essential repair works.

“Across the area, motorists are forced to navigate roads riddled with potholes and other defects. The seriousness of the situation is reflected in the millions of pounds paid out each year in compensation for vehicle damage caused by the deteriorating roads network.

“That money would be far better invested directly in repairing and maintaining our roads, rather than dealing with the consequences of ongoing neglect.

“There must be sustained investment, the development of a strategic plan, and a firm commitment to ensuring our roads are safe, fit for purpose, and no longer plagued by potholes.”

In Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council Alderman Paul Berry said, “ The Minister for Infrastructure must get to grips with the state of our roads before someone is seriously injured or killed because of the dangerous nature of the potholes on all class of roads.

“As we all travel our roads there is not one which is pothole free and there is something fundamentally wrong that needs addressed urgently.

“In my 25 years as a councillor I have never seen it as bad especially when you report the potholes and send photos of the road it now takes forever to have the repair done. In fact when the pothole has the yellow spray painted around it, it too can disappear because of the time delay.

“If Stormont is really to prove its relevance then the local Minister must show leadership and determination to have this serious issue resolved and roads made safe.

“At this location on the Cordrain Road Tandragee this junction has had repairs before Christmas and now look at the state of the works carried out, its not acceptable at all yet it is very common that such workmanship fails many times.

“There is something fundamentally wrong and it is high time the Minister proves her worth and that of Stormont.”

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has praised Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for her swift response to the significant deterioration of our roads in recent weeks.

In the days following her Assembly exchange with Gareth Wilson Minister Kimmins announced a package of nearly £8 million to help fix our roads, in addition to £30 million for maintenance announced before Christmas.

Cllr Boylan said, “This will be welcomed by motorists right across the north, representing nearly £40 million secured by the minister since December to improve our roads.

“The swift response to the recent and rapid deterioration of our roads proves we have a minister who is determined to find solutions against a backdrop of underfunding of public services.

“The minister is also working on longer term solutions to ensure the department is better prepared to maintain roads in the future.

“I know many motorists will be eager to see and feel the impact of this funding and the Infrastructure Minister is now working to get resurfacing projects underway without delay.”

The abysmal state of the roads is only too well known at Richhill Tyre Centre where owner Michael Somerville summed it up simply, “They’re terrible.”

Michael, said vehicle owners are out thousands of pounds due to damages caused by potholes.

Asked just how bad the situation is, he said, “There was one day we had to recover five vehicles in one day. One evening there, a couple of weeks ago, we had three car cars out of the same pothole coming out of Tandragee. 
That is disgusting.”

He said while he wanted to see customers coming back to him it’s “not with a new tire that the side’s ripped out because of a pothole”.

Michael added, “We’re seeing it. We’ve had more broken springs and wrecked alloys in the last few months, then we’ve seen in the last few years.”

And on the costs, he said, “You could be into hundreds of pounds. Tyres are not cheap these days. A damaged alloy you could spend, easily a couple of hundred pounds on one pothole. We had one example there a few weeks ago, a lad went through pothole, broke two alloys, and bust two tires. 
He couldn't get the same alloys again, so he had to buy a brand new set of alloys, four new tyres on, and three days later he was back. He’d hit another pothole and busted another tyre.

“So people are out hundreds and hundreds of pounds of pounds.

“Even myself there in my own van, I hit one. broke two alloys and broke two and book two tyres. 
Yeah. That, that whole, that whole day, the time.

“I had to get a recovery myself that whole day has cost me about £1,000. 
And it’s not even the, just the cost, I was on my way to help somebody else.

“The destruction this causing, it’s crazy.”

And with the wet weather of late the potholes have become even harder to spot - is that puddle shallow standing water or a tyre wrecking pothole?

And Michael pointed out, “With our infrastructure here, lots of our roads are quite narrow.

“So if there’s something coming towards you and you come across a pothole, you have no choice. 
You have to go through it and pray that your tyre doesn’t go down.”