A ROAD on the Limerick/Clare border looked like it was struck by a “mini earthquake” after a water mains burst following torrential rainfall.
A section of the R463, at Shannon Banks, Corbally was ripped up after a heavy rain burst hit the area around 8pm.
Units from Limerick City and County Fire Service, Clare County Council employees, along with Irish Water representatives, were dispatched to the scene but no injuries were reported.
In a video posted on Facebook, local Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe said: “A section of water mains has burst and it has really dramatically lifted the road, so Clare County Council are here at the moment, and you can see there are fire tenders from Limerick Fire Service.”
Deputy Crowe warned motorists of likely road works to repair the damage Tuesday morning.
“Irish Water have arrived on the scene and they will be assessing the damage but it is very unlikely you will see a significant repair tonight, so what people can really expect here is a road closure in the morning,” said Deputy Crowe.
“This is one of the main road arteries from Clare into Limerick City, so I would say leave early if you are planing to go to work in the morning, the best alternative route being up through Parteen and on to Longpavement,” he said.
In a video, showing the damage at the scene, Deputy Crowe said: “You can see the road has fully lifted. It’s about a hundred meters back from Athlunkard Bridge on the inbound lane towards the city. You can see the curbing where the footpath has lifted, all fully ruptured, and a large gush of water came up.”
“The road here is in a very poor state, the Council have arrived on the scene, as have Irish Water, so expect a closure in the morning as works get underway.”
A local who witnsssed the damage said: “It’s like an earthquake has hit the road there. The whole road lifted up and footpaths too.”
The road has been hit by a number of burst water mains over the last few years.
Limerick Sinn Féin TD, Maurice Quinlivan said the road had been left badly damaged and he was liaising with local authority officials about a repair plan.
