A historic Kilkenny bridge that is one of only six of its kind in Ireland, is set for a major overhaul. The planned works aim to keep open an important river crossing that has been used to link counties Kilkenny and Wexford for almost 400 years - and prolong the life of the heritage structure. Ferrymountgarret Bridge links Kilkenny with Wexford, the R700 near The Rower on the Kilkenny side with the outskirts of New Ross, the R741 junction, on the other side. With the current structure now almost 100 years old, extensive work will have to be carried out on the structure in the coming months. The multi-million euro project is now getting underway, under the guidance of RPS Consulting Engineers for Kilkenny County Council. TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS In the coming weeks the works will necessitate the closure of the bridge and traffic diversions. A presentation on the plans was given to Callan Thomastown district councillors at their June meeting, as the bridge is on the border of the district. Michael Meehan, a senior association with RPS Consultants, set out the background to the project as well as its aims and a projected timeline. 1794 Bridge The current Ferrymountgarret Bridge was constructed in 1930 to replace a previous timber bridge that dated from 1794. Before the bridge, that point of the river had a ferry crossing, so it has been used as a transport link between the counties for hundreds of years. While the most visible part of the bridge is the metal superstructure, it is predominantly built from reinforced concrete. The bridge used to open, to allow river vessels to pass through, up until the 1970s when it was struck by a barge. It has not opened since. The steel rolling bascule bridge (another name for a drawbridge or lifting bridge) is one of only six in Ireland of this design. An important heritage structure, the current bridge is on the National Inventory of Archaeological Heritage and the Record of Protected Structures. Because of this there will be constraints on what works can be carried out on the bridge. Now, the bridge is starting to show signs of age, Mr Meehan told councillors, including structural defects caused by its harsh, marine environment. Challenges for motorists on the always-busy route include safety issues at the junction on the Wexford side and the very narrow carriageway, which necessitates vehicles having to yield to HGVs on the bridge. It was described as not having two full lanes. Mr Meehan said the aims of the project will include timely addressing of key points of structural damage and deterioration, so as to avoid future capacity issues and traffic restrictions on the bridge. These works will also ‘maximise the remaining service life of the bridge’, he added. Aims of the project will also include preserving the important heritage of the bridge while protecting the local environment and ecology. Improving road safety in the area is key, while also minimising any disruption to traffic in the area during the project period. The project is at a very early stage, with preliminary design underway. First proposals include extensive concrete repair and strengthening as well as steelwork repair, strengthening and repainting. To do this work, over the river, engineers will need to construct temporary platforms alongside the bridge and manage traffic. Also proposed is renewal of the junction, resurfacing of the bridge and approach roads, the installation of public lighting and management of utilities. Click NEXT to continue reading about the plans for road closures. Road closure - diversions Mr Meehan pointed out that some of the plans may change as the project progresses. Now in the preliminary planning stage, this project will next see a survey of the bridge, before detailed plans are drawn up. Next will be the construction phase before the final handover to the county council. Part of the survey phase will mean a suite of detailed inspections and surveys of the bridge as well as material testing. To do this the engineering team will need to work on the river and bridge. For safety reasons the bridge will have to be completely closed to traffic during this time, with diversions for all vehicles. Mr Meehan said this is scheduled for the week starting Monday, July 21. Acknowledging it will cause some traffic disruption, he said it was a priority to schedule the closure outside school terms and after the state exams had finished. Diversion signs will be posted, with HGVs directed to take the main regional roads. Locals will, of course, know ‘shortcuts.’ It is hoped the work may be completed in a shorter timeframe. Mr Meehan said that while a full costing of the project has not yet been done, a similar project his company was involved in previously cost between €2 million and €3 million. Responding to the presentation, councillor Michael Doyle, who lives in the area, said he was delighted that something is going to be done about Ferrymountgarret Bridge. Lighting will be hugely important for improving road safety there, he said. However, he highlighted the narrow carriageway, saying “it’s very tight for cars passing. HGVs you just have to yield and let them over.” He asked if there was any possibility they could get ‘a foot or two’ extra for the road width. “Any works that could increase that would be hugely beneficial. “It has to be a functional bridge,” he said. “We can’t essentially widen the bridge,” Mr Meehan said, but pointed out that there are plinths on the structure that were added since the bridge was originally built and they will look at them. The current carriageway width is 5.05 metres, he said, and they could get it back to 5.2 or 5.3 metres with the removal of the plinths. Any proposal to widen the actual structure would not be passed, he added. Click NEXT to continue reading about these plans. Excellent proposal Cllr Doyle said the proposal was “excellent”. Numerous vehicles have ‘snagged’ on wires and railings on the bridge over the years and it’s a “real mess” at the moment,” he told the meeting. “It looks horrendous as well.” READ MORE KILKENNY VIEWS AND OPINION HERE Cllr Deirdre Cullen said it was “brilliant news” for the bridge and asked if work would be done on the approach roads. Area Engineer, Declan Murphy, said the consultants will be looking at both approaches to the bridge. Kilkenny County Council is the lead authority on the project, he added, but they will be liaising with Wexford County Council. This project is funded by the Department of Transport under a specific purpose grant, he added. So far it has been funded to design and tender stage. When tender pricing is in then they will be going back to the Department to fund the work. Cllr Doyle pointed out that these projects don’t get funded very often so he urged the designers that “all the bells and whistles should be thrown at this.” He was assured this will be considered, with Mr Murphy saying the addition of public lighting to the project had not been included in the initial plan but was added to improve road safety. CAMERA CLUB We want your photos to feature on the website via our Camera Club. Do you have a great photo from life in the locality? Whether it’s a party, wedding, communion, landscape, a quirky shot from your archives, or a simple everyday moment, we want your snapshots. We are inviting people to share photos that capture the spirit of the county. From special occasions to quieter moments, your pictures help tell the story of everyday life in our community. 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