Permission to be sought soon for Rathdrum bridge
Wicklow County Council is preparing to apply for planning permission for the Avonmore
Way Link Bridge.
Arklow Municipal District members received an update on the project to develop a pedestrian bridge over the Avonmore River at their October meeting. They were informed that a part 8 application for the suspension bridge would be lodged shortly.
Michael Nicholson, Director of Services for Community, Cultural and Social Development told members that funding for the project had been obtained in 2018 from the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. While an application was made for €500,000, a grant of €400,000 was awarded to the project. The balance would have to be provided by the council through match funding.
The proposed site for the bridge is located north of Rathdrum Rugby Club and south of Laragh. The suspension bridge would link the Avonmore Way with the Jubilee Way. By connecting these two routes, walkers will be able to move safely from Rathdrum town to the National Park site.
Consultations have already taken place with Coillte and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. As it is an area of special protection, sensitivity to the habitat had been a concern during the design process. Measures would be put in place to reduce the impact on the environment. For example, the project would use a small digger with tracks laid to reduce the damage caused. there would only be two columns on either of the river made from hand-poured cement to reduce the use of machinery.
The project was welcomed by all the councillors. Cllr Pat Kennedy (FF) said it would be of huge benefit to the district, noting that ‘people can’t get from one side of the river to the other.‘ He added that when Glendalough is at capacity, walkers often choose to follow the Avonmore Way.
‘This will be a boost for south Wicklow and, once open, will have huge potential in the long term,’ Cllr Kennedy said.
Referring to the vote to increase the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) in the county, he added that this was one of the many projects in south Wicklow where match-funding from the council was needed.
Cllr Sylvester Bourke (FG) said ‘there was no reason why the area can’t become the Camino Way for the country’. He referred to the mooted Eastern Greenway to connect Arklow to Kilmacanogue and allow walkers to enjoy the scenery.
‘I look forward to walking it once it is done,’ Cllr Bourke added.
Cllr Peir Leonard (Ind) said it was about connection and she would like to see it encourage people to come into Arklow.
Cllr Pat Fitzgerald (FF) commended council staff, noting that this was a ‘welcome development’ for south and west Wicklow.
Cllr Miriam Murphy (Ind) said the project showed ‘foresight’ as it was these type of ideas that increase footfall for local businesses.
Cllr Tommy Annesley (FF) said it was ‘fantastic’, adding that the decision taken by Councillors at the LPT meeting had been worthwhile to preserve match funding. He asked about the cost of the bridge as Arklow Chamber had previously suggested a similar bridge to the Marshes.
Mr Nicholson said that the full cost would not be confirmed until the tender process was completed. He said this was a new type of project that hadn’t been done before by the directorate. If it was successful, a bridge from the Riverwalk to the Marshes could be feasible. He explained that the design of the Avonmore Way Link Bridge was intended to bring people to the area to walk the bridge itself. The design was ‘subtle’ and sensitive to the area.
Cllr Kennedy asked if the design had taken flood debris in the river into account. Mr Nicholson said that the preferred site was a deep part of the river where the flood waters should not come over the bridge.
Cllr Leonard asked if consultations were required with Inland Fisheries. Mr Nicholson said there were restrictions in place on when work could take place in the river. If permission for the project was granted, a tender process would begin shortly afterwards.
It is hoped that works could start in 2020.