Urgent repairs needed on road damaged by hot weather

FREQUENT drivers on the Omagh to Drumquin Road are concerned that if the current poor state of the road remains into the winter months, it will be left “impassable”.

The road, which begins at Gillygooley and stretches the whole way to the village of Drumquin, was in ‘bad condition’ before the unprecedented period of hot weather a few weeks ago.

However, the extreme heat only served to exacerbate the pre-existing conditions.

One regular commuter claimed that over this period the tar resembled lava.

He said, “I’m glad I drive a banger, because I can only imagine what that road would have done to a good car.”

But soft, wet tar is no longer the primary concern for road users.

Rather, motorists have warned the uneven surface, humps and bumps could become dangerous potholes if urgent action is not taken by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

In a response to an inquiry from the Ulster Herald, a DfI spokesperson said the department was aware of the condition of sections of the B50 Omagh to Drumquin Road as a result of the recent spell of extremely hot weather.

The spokesperson added, “There are no immediate plans to resurface the Drumquin Road, however the B50 is inspected once every three months with the next inspection falling during the third week in August when all actionable defects will be recorded and repaired in line with current guidelines.”

BY EMMET McELHATTON

e.mcelhatton@ulsterherald.com