Tonabrucky road race plans in a hole
Users of the Tonabrucky Road on the edge of the city claim it is Galway's most potholed road – they have demanded the local authority take immediate action to repair the 'craters'.
The potholes along a 1.5 kilometre stretch of the Tonabrucky Road, from Tonabrucky Cross to Drom Cross, are so large and deep that a popular charity run may not be able to go ahead in June due to health and safety concerns.
The road is used by hundreds of motorists each week, by members of Rahoon/Newcastle Hurling Club, and Salthill/Devon Soccer Club, which between them have up to 1,000 members.
Rahoon/Newcastle clubhouse is also home to a card game on Friday nights, which is open to all – card players have had their tyres punctured in the past month while travelling along the road.
Salthill/Devon pitches are also used by non-members for social five-a-side matches in the evenings. As well as the sports clubs, the road has several businesses, including the cottages for tourists, a garage, a pet care centre and the makers of specialist equipment for playgrounds.
Galway County Council, under pressure from locals, last year repaired some of the potholes – but the road was as bad as ever again this Spring.
“They did repair works last May. They just filled it in with chips and tar – what is needed is a complete resurfacing of the road. The road is about two kilometres and about 1.5k of it needs to be resurfaced,” said Lisa Regan, club secretary and pro of Rahoon/Newcastle Hurling Club.
Ms Regan, who organises the annual Tonabrucky Challenge, a popular road race that raises roughly €30,000 for the club and a nominated charity, says the event wouldn’t be able to go ahead today due to the potholes.
“It is taking place this year on June 6, but we honestly wouldn’t be able to go ahead with it due to the potholes. It is so bad, it is dangerous. We will have around 500 runners and walkers and we encourage new mothers to take part so there will be buggies.
“You just could not hold it now because you’d be afraid someone would fall into the potholes or twist their ankle or injure themselves. You couldn’t take the chance.
“I’m hoping that Galway County Council will carry out a complete resurfacing of the road to make it safe for motorists, to ensure that cars aren’t damaged travelling along the road and in order that participants in the Tonabrucky Challenge are safe,” added Ms Regan.