The road at The Cove, in Tramore, which was damaged by overloaded waste water pipes. Photo: John Power

AN investigation is underway in Tramore to assess the full extent of the damage to a section of road at The Cove and at Strand Road following last Friday night’s prolonged downpour which caused sewage and waste water pipes to bulge up and crack the road surface.

Preliminary estimates but the damage to be in the region of €50,000 when the road to the Pier at The Cove, literally split open when sewer pipes were unable to take the torrent of surface water pouring through in the height of the storm.

The swollen pipes pushed up the road causing it to literally crack releasing some sewage to the surface.

Tramore Town Engineer, Ken Walsh said that the combined sewers for Cliff Road and the Cove are taken to the pumping station at the Cove where the waste is treated and released out to sea. “The pump couldn’t take the force of the water and caused the pipes to come under pressure and the road to break up.

A similar but less serious problem arose at Strand Road where underground pipes were forced upwards causing paving stones to break up.

The full extent of the damage is currently being examined by Irish Water which is now responsible to water related road issues.