Councillor calls for action on Healy Pass road repair

Cork’s iconic Healy Pass mountain road on the Beara Peninsula is in “complete disrepair”, according to local Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington, caused by repeated water main breaks requiring the road to be dug up.

Mr Harrington said the water mains below the road failed 20 times last year alone, and each time the road was dug up to fix the break. He said Uisce Éireann should install new pipes, which would be more cost-effective.

In a motion proposed to the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork municipal district, Mr Harrington asked: “That this council would write to Uisce Éireann and request that they carry out immediate emergency road reinstatement repairs to the R574 Healy Pass road from Adrigole Bridge to their water treatment plant where the road is in complete disrepair and dangerous in places.

Responding for Cork County Council, area engineer Aidan Prendergast said: “On a 1,600m section of the R574 Healy Pass road there are three sections of temporary road reinstatements on the southbound lane, ranging from 32m to 10m in length.

“Portions of the reinstatements are not acceptable. The Castletownbere Area Office shall remind Uisce Éireann of its responsibilities regarding the maintenance of temporary road reinstatements and its obligation to carry out permanent reinstatements in a time.”

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