They’ve been making headlines for far too long, yet despite repeated efforts to have the Department for Infrastructure commit real funds to tackling the pothole problem, there’s still little light to be seen from the bottom of those trenches.
Raising the issue from Killylea before heavy rainfall last week, one resident said potholes measuring some five inches deep on a busy local road have not yet been repaired despite being reported to the Department for Infrastructure three months ago.
The resident who frequently travels the Fellows Hall / Derryhaw Road said the state of the road is now “ridiculous” for the “large volume of traffic it carries”.
They furnished Armagh I with several photographs of just “one of many” potholes along the stretch of road, with a tape measure indicating the depth of the defect to be five inches at its deepest point and approximately 66 inches wide.
In an email to this publication they said: “Numerous cars have burst tyres and rims in the potholes. The potholes – only repaired last year – are starting to reappear due to the substandard quality of the repairs being done.”
Stressing the urgent need for repair, the resident said the pothole is located on a “sweeping corner” whereby many drivers are taking to the opposite side of the road to avoid it.
And, this is just one isolated section of road across a county where roads are continuing to crumble beneath our wheels.
Since the heavy rainfall of last week, local representatives have been up in arms over the rapidly worsening state of the roads across the ABC area and beyond.
On Friday (January 23), Councillor Lavelle McIlwrath shared images of badly damaged gulleys and potholes on the Portadown / Tandragee Road between Shelbourne and Ballylisk, calling them “tyre / suspension wreckers”.
Of other similar defects, the Councillor continued: “Another beast of a pothole at Mullahead Road, Tandragee. A dangerous pothole on a fast stretch of roadway.
“I could fill a page but these potholes are on very fast sections of road and avoidance or hitting them could cause massive problems. Please take care! These have been reported multiple times.”
The Moy Road has also been highlighted on numerous occasions.
Councillor Kyle Moutray said: “Earlier today, I called at the stretch between Scotch Street and the Ardress Road where the road condition is extremely hazardous.”
Outlining the issues, he explained, the yellow paint markings have “completely worn away”, there are at least 8–10 “serious potholes” along this short stretch, which he says are creating a “growing danger to motorists”.
“After raising these concerns with the Infrastructure Minister, Jonathan Buckley MLA has now written directly to the Divisional Roads Manager, pressing for urgent action,” he said.
“In the meantime, I urge everyone to take extra care, and where possible avoid this road, particularly after dark when potholes are harder to see.
“If you suffer any damage to your vehicle as a result, please get in touch with me directly. This road has been left in a shocking state for far too long. I will continue to push for the action residents deserve.”
In reply to a request for comment on the Killylea roads, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said: “Unfortunately, the budget that the Executive receives from London still continues to be substantially short of what is needed, and as a result, my Department does not have the funding for everything my Department wants, nor needs to do.
“Therefore, prioritisation is required. This has left the department operating in a challenging budgetary position for over a decade, and this has had an impact on road maintenance and the condition of the road network.
“Roads within the Killylea and surrounding areas are regularly inspected in line with the Department’s Limited Service maintenance policy.
“An inspection is planned on Derryhaw Road early in 2026 and any actionable defects will be instructed to our contractor for repair.”
