Concern as road will remain closed when schools reopen in Waterford
The road will remain closed after schools return. File pic
There is concern in the Ferrybank area of Waterford City at the impending reopening of local schools arising from infrastructural works taking place in the area.
The Abbe Road works are ongoing and with the scale of the overall project the road will likely remain closed after the date when schools reopen for the new term.
An extension to August 30, was granted for the works and while many of the schools will have returned by then it's anticipated that date is "ambitious" and will likely be extended further.
However, local people are being urged to support local businesses that have been affected by the ongoing works with calls being made for people to be proactive in terms of supporting local enterprises.
One local commented that a primary concern will be when the three local schools reopen, which is due to happen on Thursday, August 29. They will bring around 1,400 students along with teaching staff back into the area on a daily basis throughout the week.
It's expected the local secondary school will also be holding induction days for incoming First Year students and those preparing for their state exams.
Where possible parents and guardians are being advised to encourage students to walk to school and revise their car drop off points. It's also advisable that parents familiarise themselves with new and existing road systems before the schools reopen.
As one local commented: "This preparation will help mitigate any potential issues and ensure a smoother transition back to school for everyone. The next few weeks will require cooperation and adaptability from the entire community to manage the challenges posed by the ongoing roadworks."
The extended road closure has also had a significant impact in local businesses with some of them being forced to close. Businesses in the Ross Abbey Retail Park and Abbeylands Business Park have been particularly affected and local people are being encouraged to do their best to give support to their local businesses.
