RESIDENTS in Rush are up in arms over a three-month-long closure of the main road to Skerries to facilitate Irish Water works.
The R128 was closed to traffic last week as work got underway on a vital stage of the €9.7m Rush wastewater collection project. There is still access for cyclists and pedestrians.
When completed, the project will significantly improve the bathing water quality at South Beach, North Beach and Harbour Road Beach by stopping the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea.
Irish Water says that the foul sewer currently in place along the R128 is sub-standard and under capacity.
While local residents accept that the work to upgrade the sewer network is necessary, there is deep concern that the road will be closed until November 24, causing major inconvenience to commuters and schoolchildren.
A shuttle bus is operating to connect with the rerouted 33 service at Lusk and Loughshinny. Initial reports suggested that this arrangement was working reasonably well.
The official diversion in place is via Baldongan, near Loughshinny. However, many motorists are opting to get around the closure of the R128 by using a narrow country road that links Palmer Road and Kenure. This has resulted in traffic chaos and has caused huge disruption to both St Maurs GAA Club and Ros Eo Gaelscoil.
Many residents warned that a serious accident could occur on this narrow route, which is only one car wide and has two sharp, dangerous bends. On social media sites, parents spoke of being delayed in long tailbacks while on their way to collect their children from school.
One post on a Rush Facebook page reads: “They will only sit up and a listen if there is a serious accident. It might be too late for some people. Hindsight is a great thing, but foresight is better! It's a shame it has come to this. People of Rush have got to give our local representatives a kicking at the next election over what has been foisted upon our community without decent alternatives being taken into any consideration.”
Another woman posted: “I was nearly hit head-on today at the bend coming round the GAA club. I had to swerve too. Guy absolutely flew around the corner in a car. So bloody dangerous – people need to slow down.”
Many Rush locals have been using social media to offer lifts to people who have been caught off-guard by the new arrangements.
Some wcalled for a public protest to be held at Fingal County Council’s headquarters in Swords or at the site of the works.
There is no disputing the need for the upgrade of the sewer network in the area. Currently, approximately 75 per cent of sewage generated in Rush is discharged untreated into the Irish Sea, resulting in the closure of local beaches to swimmers.
Irish Water recently held a consultation evening with Rush residents to discuss the impact of the road closure and outline the measures it was putting in place.
