Popular scenic coast road will need to be re-routed due to erosion following severe storms

The Coast Road links Waterford villages including Annestown and Bunmahon, and is a favourite route for tourists and walkers in the southeast.

It traces west from Waterford city and Tramore towards the famous Copper Coast, and in sections, travels close to the sea and cliffs.

However, recent storms have seen parts of the cliff face crumble in the wake of powerful waves.

Amid concerns over subsidence of parts of the coast road, traffic controls have had to be introduced.

Waterford City and County Council told radio station WLRFM that the road will have to be realigned well away from the cliff face where the worst of the erosion has taken place.

"Following a storm event in April this year, a combination of heavy rainfall and wave overtopping caused some erosion to the cliff face," a council spokesperson said.

"A traffic management system has been put in place to divert traffic away from the cliff face and investigations are ongoing.

"It is the intention of Waterford City and County Council to realign the road away from the cliff face in the medium to long term."

The revelation came after weather-related damage was also reported to parts of the famous Ring of Kerry route.

Wexford County Council has also had to undertake remedial works to protect coastal roads with significant concern over cliff damage outside Kilmore Quay from severe storms over the past decade.

Such is the scale of the resultant erosion that there are concerns the public roadway could be jeopardised.