New bridges needed for Ballinderrig and Glanworth

The viability of bridges at Ballinderrig and Glanworth was raised at this week’s meeting of the Fermoy Municipal District.

A motion put forward by Cllr Frank O’Flynn sought for Cork County Council to commence the process for the planning and provision of a ‘very much needed’ new Ballinderrig Bridge and road realignment.

According to Cllr O’Flynn, the bridge, located near Mitchelstown Golf course on the R513 Limerick Road, requires work in the interest of the safety of road users and for the future economic development of Mitchelstown.

“I think we need this for the future economic development of Mitchelstown. Mitchelstown is the first town you enter in Cork County when you enter from that side and it is the main route from Limerick.

“A lot of people love to walk that area and they take their lives into their own hands when they do. It’s not very safe and I would like to commence the process of putting funding in place, Cllr O’Flynn said.

Cllr O’Flynn noted that the bridge was looked at a number of years ago and that plans were underway, however there was no funding available for the works at the time.

Cllr Kay Dawson seconded the motion, highlighting that when she had raised the matter a the Northern Committee meeting, a response to her motion stated that the bridge was ‘in need of attention’ and that the committee would seek funding in the 2021 submission.

In response to Cllr O’Flynn’s motion at the Fermoy Municipal District meeting, senior executive engineer Brendan O’Gorman said there is no indication that the Department of Transport will fund this project ‘or even to fund commencement of the required feasibility, planning and detailed design stages’.

Mr O’Gorman said that the council will refer the motion and the request to the senior management team and the director of the Roads Directorate for consideration and liason with Limerick County Council who would be joint partners in any future proposal.

“The existing bridge structure does not curtail the economic development of Mitchelstown,” Mr O’Gorman added.

GLANWORTH BRIDGE

In reference to a motion raised at last month’s Fermoy Municipal District, Cllr Deirdre O’Brien noted that she has since received multiple calls regarding Glanworth Bridge.

Last month’s meeting saw the councillor call for a feasibility study on the historic bridge and for a new bridge to be built, as Glanworth is being ‘starved of its potential to grow economically’.

This week, Cllr O’Brien raised the topic again noting that height restriction barriers on the bridge are being ‘pulled down’ on a regular basis by vehicles that are too heavy entering the bridge and knocking them.

“They have had to be erected and replaced on numerous occasions. I really think we have to save this bridge and we need to restrict traffic to a maximum weight or the bridge structure will be in danger of collapsing,” Cllr O’Brien said.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn disagreed with Cllr O’Brien stating: “I don’t want that message to go out that lorries are knocking them. We know what’s happening to them. They’re being taken and they’re being taken for a certain reason: for their value in scrap,” Cllr O’Flynn said.

Disagreeing with Cllr O’Flynns statement, Cllr O’Brien reiterated that the height restriction was the issue and went on to state that going forward, the council should be looking at installing a new bridge.

Cllr O’Brien proposed a motion to seek a deputation with Environment Minister Eamon Ryan and to seek funding for this bridge.

Cllr O’Flynn supported the motion and requested that Ballinderrig Bridge be added.

‘SMALL STEPS’

Senior executive engineer Brendan O’Gorman said that the council should move ‘in small steps rather than jumping into a deputation’.

Mr O’Gorman said the matter should be brought to the attention of the senior management team, the director of roads and the county engineer,

“Similar to Ballinderrig, we need to investigate a mechanism for funding to bring it to a certain level so we have to start the process again.

“We have route selection in both bridges, but we have to start the planning and design process from scratch,” Mr O’Gorman said.