Dublin council warns of high-tide flooding

FEARS OF flooding will result in the closure of Dublin city's boardwalk and some roads in Sandymount for a time this weekend.

A flood warning has been issued by Dublin City Council for some coastal areas. High tides are expected tomorrow night between 11pm and 2am, and on Monday afternoon from 11am to 2.30pm.

The council have placed dam bags in risk areas, including Sandymount strand. However, sandbags will not be distributed as they have already been given to small number of at-risk houses.

There will be stormy conditions tomorrow night, with gusts of over 100km/h and heavy rain. This will continue until Monday, and between 20mm and 30mm of rain is expected in some places.

Tomorrow morning will also be showery. The afternoon will be sunny and breezy but cold, according to Met Éireann.

A statement from Dublin City Council said it had "put a number of precautionary, flood-relief measures in place at key locations in Sandymount, Ringsend and Clontarf, in addition to substantial defence works which have been carried out over the last six years.

"We have placed dam bags in at-risk seafront areas. All the gullies in those areas and general surroundings have been cleaned over the last few days, and we will have crews on the ground over the period.

"During the four hours of the alert period the Liffey boardwalk and the following roads in Sandymont will be closed; Beach Road - parts of; Strand Road - parts of; Merrion Gates; pedestrian access at martello tower, close off; Marine Drive junction; Seafort Avenue junction; Newgrove Avenue junction; Lea Road junction; Gilford Avenue junction."

The council's emergency number (6796186) will be manned during the high-tide period.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times