Most of a Laois bridge wall in river bed after crashes

Most of the wall of a Laois bridge is in a river bed due to vehicles colliding with it, a Council meeting was told.

Councillor Seamus McDonald asked in a motion "that Laois County Council replace and widen bridge at Meelick, Rosenallis."

“It has been hit twice by a truck and a van in the last seven or eight months,” said Cllr McDonald. “Most of the wall is in the river,” he told the meeting of Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District.

In a written response to his motion, the Council said: “The MD Office will carry out a survey and engineering assessment of the bridge. This will determine the structural and financial feasibility of widening or completely replacing the bridge. The MD Office has no 2026 budget available for bridge works. The Council will provide warning signage etc. to improve road user awareness of the damaged bridge.”

Cllr McDonald said the road was too narrow at the bridge and it was dangerous and a hazard.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Paddy Bracken who said there was “a high volume of traffic and heavy vehicles” using the road which crossed the bridge.

Cllr Ollie Clooney also supported the motion and he said the was “only room for a horse and cart” over the bridge.