The public has been asked not to use a popular bridge in South Kilkenny, due to the structure being unsafe.
Speaking at the Piltown Municipal District Council meeting, John Tennyson, Engineer with Kilkenny County Council has called on the public not to use Killonerry Bridge, which connects Piltown and Carrick-on-Suir.
“Ultimately the bridge is not safe,” said Mr Tennyson. “A visual survey was undertaken by myself and the Bridges’ Engineer last week, and we are considering an independent structural assessment, but we expect that the bridge will be condemned.”
Mr Tennyson went on to explain that the bridge had suffered significant damage during floods in late November.
With one half of the bridge in Kilkenny and the other in Tipperary, it took a search of the archives to identify who had ultimate responsibility for the bridge. A document recovered by Kilkenny Council revealed that the bridge was built in the 1930’s, between the World Wars.
A joint application to develop the bridge was made by both Councils in 1964. Regarding future applications, Mr. Tennyson said, “I would imagine any works would be a joint application as well.”
Mr Tennyson explained that signs had been erected to stop people from using the bridge but said, that despite this “there is evidence that people are still using the bridge.”
“That is a significant health and safety issue. On behalf of Kilkenny County Council I’d like to say that people should not use the bridge, it’s not safe to use,” he said.
Killonerry Bridge was described as a “vital connection” by the chair of the South Kilkenny Council meeting, Pat Dunphy, who sought a guarantee that the bridge would remain in place.
In response Mr Tennyson said, “If people continue to use it no matter what safety barriers are put up there, and it’s not safe to use, then it might have to be taken down. I’m not committing to anything here but that will be an option.”
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
