McGlone Questions Rural Roads Maintenance After Road Collapse

SDLP MLA for Mid Ulster, Patsy McGlone, has questioned the Department of Regional Development’s approach to maintenance of the rural roads network. Mr McGlone’s comments came in response to the collapse of another section of Glen Road, Maghera, following overnight rain. Roads Service had recently completed work repairing Glen Road after a previous collapse. The Mid Ulster MLA visited the site this morning with local SDLP Councillor Kate Lagan.

Mr McGlone said, “The collapse of yet another section of Glen Road, Maghera, calls into question the patch-and-make-do policy currently employed by the Department of Regional Development and Road Service on our rural roads.

“The previous collapse along this road should have been a warning signal to DRD and Roads Service and a full assessment should have been made of the state of this road.

“Thankfully no-one was hurt as a result of this latest collapse but the safety of all road users was put at risk because the underlying problem along Glen Road was not fully addressed.”

Cllr Lagan added, “Once again the Glen Road, Maghera has had to be closed to traffic as yet another portion of the road has collapsed.

The question must be asked why the cause of the problem was not addressed before completing the initial repair.

I have spoken to Robin Cuddy of Roads Service and he assures me that they are looking at the possibility of carrying out the repair using traffic lights so that the road can remain open. On the previous occasion there was such serious congestion and much annoyance for the residents of Tullyheron Road.”

Mr McGlone ended by saying, “This incident underlines the importance of a properly funded and fully co-ordinated strategy for the maintenance of our rural roads network. That is something I have been calling for and will be repeating in further correspondence with the Minister.”


ENDS