Louth roads flooded and coastline hit as heavy rain persists

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Louth’s weather woes have continued for a second week with flooding reports and planned road closures across the county.

Heavy and persistent rainfall caused localised flooding in several areas throughout the day, Louth County Council confirmed.

In Drogheda, Wellington Quay, the R167 Boyne Road, and the R150 Marsh Road experienced significant flooding, while the R167 Queensborough, Baltray was left impassable.

The Ramparts walkway will remain closed for the remainder of the week after the River Boyne burst its banks.

In Blackrock, Main Street was closed during Tuesday afternoon as high waves washed across the promenade at high tide. Road sweepers were deployed to clear debris, and the road reopened shortly before 2pm.

In North Louth, parts of the road at Ballagan/Ballynamoney were left badly undermined by debris washed inland by the sea.

Met Éireann advises that heavy and persistent rainfall will continue through the week, particularly affecting southern and eastern counties.

Sandbags are available from the following Louth County Council depots around the county at Bush, Co Louth; Town Hall Yard, Dundalk; Dundalk Machinery Yard (Behind Garda Barracks); Ship Street, Drogheda; Wellington Quay, (Stockwell Lane) Drogheda; Woodlands Depot; Ardee Civic Office Yard; North Quays, Drogheda; Greenhills, Drogheda; Baltray, Drogheda.

A High Tide Advisory is in place until 10pm on Thursday, 5 February with maximum surge levels of 0.39m and 0.33m in place for Dundalk Bay and Drogheda respectively.

The council have advised that it is likely that Wellington Quay, Drogheda will flood during the period of high tides. Members of the public are urged to use an alternative route during these hours.

Motorists are also advised to avoid Haymarket Bridge, from the direction of the Donore Road, Dublin Road and North Road, during high tide on Wednesday, 4 February (10:30am-2.30pm) and Thursday, 5 February (11:30am-2.30pm).

Main Street in Blackrock will also be closed to the public for high tide from 12pm on Wednesday, 4 February and Thursday, 5 February and from 11pm-1am nightly from Tuesday to Friday.