NORTHWEST:CARRICK-ON-SHANNON in Co Leitrim could be cut off if heavy rain persists in the coming week, experts warned yesterday as floods caused traffic delays of up to an hour during rush hour.
Several roads throughout the county were closed while diversions were in operation on a number of approach roads to Carrick, including the N4 on the Dublin side of the town.
Leitrim County Council urged motorists to avoid the worst-hit areas of Carrick-on-Shannon and Leitrim village as council staff helped property owners to protect vulnerable buildings.
Development on the flood plains around Carrick has traditionally been a controversial issue and the worst-hit areas yesterday were riverside locations on the outskirts of the town.
“I have been in Carrick since 1973 and it is the worst I have ever seen,” said local Garda sergeant Martin Cunniffe. “If the waters continue to rise like this for a week you could well see a situation where the town could be cut off.”
Traffic chaos was exacerbated yesterday as the county council raised a new footbridge on the Shannon on the Sligo side of the town. The main public car park at the back of the Bush Hotel in the centre of town was closed due to flooding, as was access to the Landmark Hotel car park, while traffic on the main Sligo/Dublin route had to be diverted outside the town. However, most businesses remained open as town centre streets were not affected by the floods.
Leitrim village was also badly hit and only jeeps and lorries were allowed through the heavy floods on the Leitrim/Carrick road.
A number of routes throughout Sligo and Roscommon were closed. Gardaí in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, said 12 roads in their area were closed including the Milltown to Castlerea, Laragh and Enfield to Ballintubber and the N60 Ballymoe route.
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