North County Limerick was on flood alert Sunday as council officials took the step of closing the Plassey Bridge, near the University of Limerick.
Council officials say they are concerned over the safety of the pedestrian bridge structure, which is known locally as the black bridge. Members of the public are being advised not to attempt to use the pedestrian bridge to cross the Shannon river until further notice.
Limerick County Council says they have also distributed sandbags in low lying vulnerable areas of Castleconnell, Mountshannon and Montpelier while there are reports of some flooding in Clonlara and Parteen. A flood warning is in effect for the region south of Killaloe, including Limerick City as the river Shannon remains at worrying high levels.
Officials are asking people to avoid contact with flood waters at all times.
NEW DETAILS
Officilas are warning of further flooding risks over the coming days owing to “increasing levels of water in the Shannon system.” The areas concerned on the Limerick/Clare border in this latest alert are O’Briensbridge, Clonlara, Westbury and Shannon Banks.
NEW DETAILS (Monday 23/11/09)
An Interagency Group in the Mid West has issued a warning of further flooding along the lower River Shannon today.
In a joint council statement Monday they said the discharge levels at the ESB weir in Parteen have been growing and the release of higher volumes of water downstream will “become unavoidable later today.”
They say areas downstream from Parteen as far as Limerick City can expect higher flood levels as a result. Sandbags are in place along Quays in Limerick City along with areas in Corbally.
Road Closures
Limerick County Council has announced the closure of the R525 Castleconnell to Montpelier-O’Briensbridge Road, near the railway bridge, due to flooding.The Mountshannon Road in Annacotty and the road from Charco’s to Scanlan Park in Castleconnell are also closed.
its getting scary out there now