Council urged ensure full resurfacing of Cork road once works are completed 

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy has called upon Cork City Council to ensure that the surface of Douglas Road is resurfaced fully once Uisce Éireann has finished their scheme of works.

Councillor McCarthy noted: “The investment into the water network of Douglas Road and surrounds is very welcome. I’ve had many calls over the years from certain residents calling for the pressure and the water quality to be improved.

“The replacement of water pipes in the last few months has been welcome. I have been informed by Cork City Council that the digging up scheme will, in the next couple of weeks, come to a close. I have already had residents in contact with me with regard to the reinstatement of the surface of Douglas Road.

“I have called upon Cork City Council to liaise with Uisce Éireann to sort out who is responsible for putting the road back and who is responsible for the high level of finance needed for resurfacing. Douglas Road is a long road, and much reinstatement and/or resurfacing is required”.

Condition of road 

The director of the Operations Directorate, John Stapleton, has informed Councillor McCarthy of national guidance regarding reinstatement. At the outset, the extent of reinstatement required on any road is determined by the condition of the existing road surface prior to works commencing.

“In accordance with national guidance, full lane reinstatement is required where a trench is located within a lane that has been resurfaced within the previous five years, or where the pavement condition rating is nine or 10.

“In all other cases, trench-width reinstatement only is required. Full road-width reinstatement is necessary only where a trench straddles the centre-line joint and therefore impacts two lanes”.

“On Douglas Road, the majority of the road surface is older than five years and has a PSCI rating below 9. However, Uisce Eireann, at the request of Cork City Council, has agreed to complete significant areas of full-lane-width reinstatement in addition to standard trench reinstatement.

“The water main upgrade extends for approximately 2.2 km, resulting in varying minimum reinstatement requirements along its length.

“The indicative cost of resurfacing a kilometre of one traffic lane to a depth of 100 mm is approximately €315,000 per kilometre.”

Separately, Cork City Council will be undertaking a section of full resurfacing in autumn this year, covering approximately 180m westward from the Douglas Road/Bellair junction (near Tesco Express).