A truck driver had a lucky escape when part of the Monivea Road he was driving over collapsed on Monday morning due to a burst water main which left up to 500 households without water for the day.
The truck driver had to be towed from the hole which emerged over a 60m stretch of road outside the Carnmore community centre.
Gardaí were called to the scene and they immediately blocked off the road to traffic.
Galway County Council dispatched their road and water services staff to the area. In consultation with Irish Water a contractor was hired to repair the pipe restoring normal service by 10pm to the area.
Residents affected lived in Carnmore, Lisheenavalla, Castlelambert, Moorepark, Cartymore, Grange and Moonabaun. Some parts of Athenry had also experienced low pressure all day Monday.
Workmen repairing the collapsed stretch of road in Carnmore yesterday. Photo by Stan Shelds.
The road was reopened to traffic some hours later. Once the water mains was repaired, road crews were sent to work on fixing the collapse. It was expected to be completed by late Wednesday afternoon.
There was no particular reason for the burst mains, explained a spokesman in the water services section of Galway County Council.
“It can happen at any time, any place. There’s a huge network of pipe work around the county, some is of better quality than others.
“This was a substantial mains which was supplying the public network as well as a number of group water schemes so it affected up to 500 households at best estimate.”
