Galway road - flooding on a new road (Where Font roundabout used to be)

Sniipe

Is there somewhere I can complain about this?
The link shows us stopped at the traffic lights where the Font roundabout used to be. Its a new road, I would expect better than this. There was a bit of heavy rain fall (nothing out of the ordinary for Galway).

Shortly after I took the shot a commercial van mounted the cycle path and drove through the puddles, however, no one got wet.

antoobrien

Sniipe wrote: »

Is there somewhere I can complain about this? http://i.imgur.com/YyHYgh.jpg
The link shows us stopped at the traffic lights where the Font roundabout used to be. Its a new road, I would expect better than this. There was a bit of heavy rain fall (nothing out of the ordinary for Galway).

Shortly after I took the shot a commercial van mounted the cycle path and drove through the puddles, however, no one got wet.

You can contact the roads department of Galway City Council and possibly Coffey Construction (who did the works).

Unfortunately that's a spot that water gathers regularly, there has also been spot flooding recently at Parkmore (just north of the RAB, they thought they'd fixed that, oh well) and Briarhill (at the school) due to the amount of rain. In all cases its because of the lie of the land, the water drains to those spots.

Sniipe

I will get onto them. I've tweeted galway city council.

I understand its probably due to the lie of the land, but I don't think that is a good enough answer. Its a high enough point by the way. This will happen every time there is a downpour. Drainage should have been thought about more. These are civil engineers (I hope) that looked at this.

antoobrien

Sniipe wrote: »

I understand its probably due to the lie of the land, but I don't think that is a good enough answer. Its a high enough point by the way.

I know it's a high enough point, but (somehow) that corner of the road is the lowest point of the road - despite a 3/4 foot drop to the Monivea Park side of the road.

If you ever get a chance leave the car at the shops in Mervue and take a gander about the two junctions, you'd be surprised where the problems can appear if you don't see them from ground level.

Sniipe wrote: »

This will happen every time there is a downpour. Drainage should have been thought about more. These are civil engineers (I hope) that looked at this.

I don't think we can really blame the guys who looked at this recently for the flooding, it's been happening on and off since the road opened. It takes a lot of rain to trigger it, unlike the other two spots I mentioned earlier (but neither of those are in the CCs remit, they're county roads).

Edit:
I do wonder though, if they put adequate thought into the effect of removing the grass & shrubbery from the roundabout and surrounds. The growth on the roundabout in particular would have naturally soaked up a lot the water that's now going to end up in that corner.

antoobrien

To Illustrate what I was saying earlier about the amount of vegitation that has been removed:

Here's the google streetview of the RAB (picture 2009):



vs how it looks today:

Sniipe wrote: »

The water that would have gone into the RAB now flows down into the corner, with the runoff from the hill above the flood also seeping down.

A quick read of the plans indicate the thought processes involved indicate that there was no thought about the extra water that would be released by the changes to the junction:

Flora & Fauna (Font)
A review of the NPWS database identified the presence of the common Small-white Orchid (Pseudorchis albida) to be within a 10km radius of the area. This wild Irish flower is found in open, well-drained upland pastures and heaths. The existing land type and location of the roundabout is not suitable for this species will therefore not be impacted upon as a result of the proposed works.

All works will take place within the existing road corridor. The removal and cutting back of the existing verges and vegetation will be minimal. There will be no significant impacts on flora and fauna. The removal of vegetation which surrounds sections of the approach roads will be replanted in a suitable location. As such there will be no loss to biodiversity as a result of the proposed works.

Hydrology & Hydrogeology (Font)
Outlined below are specific mitigation measures as identified in the NRA publication “Guidelines on Procedures for Assessment and Treatment of Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology for National Road Schemes”.
Construction Phase Hydrological Mitigation Measures, relevant to the proposed Scheme, (Short Term) are as follows:
• Storage of fuel, oils and chemicals on an impermeable base, away from drains and watercourses. Fuel storage areas should be bunded to provide adequate retention capacity in the event of a leak or spillage occurring;
• Refuelling of plant and vehicles on impermeable surfaces, away from drains and watercourses;
• Provision of spill kits at high risk and/or sensitive sites;
• Installation of wheelwash and plant washing facilities having no overflow where effluents are retained pending treatment and disposal;
• Implementation of measures to minimise waste and ensure correct handling,
storage and disposal of waste (most notably wet concrete and asphalt); and
• Specifying regular monitoring of surface waters during the construction period.

Operational Phase Hydrological Mitigation Measures, relevant to the proposed Scheme, (Long Term) include the construction of hydrocarbon interceptors at sensitive outfalls.

In terms of Hydrogeology the impact of road construction on aquifers and groundwater resources can be minimised by applying sound design principles and by following good work practices.

The OPW National Flood Hazard Mapping was consulted but revealed there to be no Flood risks within at least 3km radius of the roundabout.

All works will take place within the existing road corridor. This will ensure that there will only be a requirement to alter the existing drainage system. There will be no appreciable impacts on hydrology or hydrogeology.

It appears that there was more consideration paid to how construction will affect plants, than to how the lack of it will affect the operation of the road.

Sniipe

That's a good point antoobrien about the natural soakage that was there. However (I'm not an engineer - probably more than obvious) - my thought process would be that there would be drains (storm drains) along the road to large run off pipes which wouldn't have a dip and collect so much water. The water, then, would be transported naturally to a river/an area that can take large amounts of water - heck it could even drain out en route to its final destination? Perhaps it isn't/wasn't possible at this point...

snubbleste

I took a similar photograph a few weeks back Sniipe, except the water was covering the footpath as well.
Wrote to the Council, asked them to send a roads engineer out, cycle on the (submerged) bike path and to erect flooding signage in the area. Still awaiting a response.

antoobrien

Sniipe wrote: »

That's a good point antoobrien about the natural soakage that was there. However (I'm not an engineer - probably more than obvious) - my thought process would be that there would be drains (storm drains) along the road to large run off pipes which wouldn't have a dip and collect so much water. The water, then, would be transported naturally to a river/an area that can take large amounts of water - heck it could even drain out en route to its final destination? Perhaps it isn't/wasn't possible at this point...

If we did that, it'd be putting it into the sewerage system, like they do in Dublin. There are parts where, when a lot of rain falls, the smell of the sewage can be fairly strong near the manholes.

Tbh, I'm not sure where the sewage system is in the area, I'd assume that due to the large scale local housing (Mervue, Ballybrit & Castlepark) as well as the Industrial estates, there is access to the main sewage system, but this being Galway, I wouldn't bet against it either.

Sniipe

I got a reply to the City Council in record time - I was delighted:

The isue with flooding at the junction this morning was due to a build up of leaves in the gullies.
This is a seasonal issue that will keep occuring.

The leaves that caused this mornings problem, have now been cleared.

Jim Molloy
Sen. Exec. Engineer

Its a pity that they don't have spell check...
Anyway - I'm going to keep an eye on the flooding after this "season".