Kildare County Council urged to widen approach roads for two bridges in Newbridge

A county councillor has urged Kildare County Council (KCC) to widen the approach roads for two bridges in Newbridge.

Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell made the request at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Wednesday, December 17 last.

He motioned for KCC to widen the approach roads at Sexes Railway Bridge, Rickardstown and the Morristown Railway Bridge at Lakeside and Watercress Manor Estates.

Cllr McDonnell's motion was seconded by the Mayor of the MD, Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey.

In response to his motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: "The Newbridge Area Based Transport Assessment has identified the upgrade of both of these bridges and the associated approach roads as medium term objectives.

"These projects are typically delivered in three to five years. However, this is dependent on funding, and at present, there is no funding allocated in the Capital Programme."

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Despite this, KCC assured Cllr McDonnell: "The Executive will continue engagement with Irish Rail with a view to progressing both of these projects in the medium term."

KCC further said: "Extensive engagement will also be needed with Irish Rail, who is the owner of the two existing structures and with the landowners on both sides of the two bridges.

"[A] Consulting Engineer will also need to be appointed to manage the optioneering, design and consenting associated with two projects of this scale."

In addition, KCC said that the acquisition of third party lands would also be required in order to deliver this scheme.

SUGGESTIONS

Speaking further on his motion, Cllr McDonnell told KCC that there are "a number of [traffic] bottlenecks" in Newbridge.

He also outlined a number of suggestions to KCC: delist the bridges; arrange a meeting with Irish Rail to discuss the matter further; and appoint a Consultating Engineer.

In addition, Cllr McDonnell criticised the point in the report that noted that these projects are typically delivered in three to five years.

He emphasised to KCC: "This [matter] is very urgent."

Once Cllr McDonnell concluded his suggestions, a senior engineer for KCC who was present at the meeting, Donal Hodgins, responded to him.

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For the first suggestion, he said that the delisting process would be a separate process that would have to go before KCC's Planning Department.

Speaking on the second suggestion, Mr Hodgins said that there has been a meeting with Irish Rail.

For the Newbridge-based representative's third and final point about the appointment of a Consulting Engineer, Mr Hodgins said: "It would be Irish Rail's responsibility to do this, as the bridges are not in KCC's remit."

He added: "It's just a question of it not being our property and encouraging Irish Rail to carry out the works. In general, the bridges are owned by Irish Rail."

Mr Hodgins also told Cllr McDonnell that it was "useful" to have the motion at the meeting, in order to "alert them [Irish Rail] about the concerns [about the two approach roads and bridges]".

However, he also stressed: It will be challenging to get this motion up and running."

Cllr McDonnell subsequently asked Mr Hodgins: "Can we get the meeting moving along?"

Following this, Mayor Heavey told KCC: "The north side of Newbridge is under intense pressure [in terms of traffic]."

His party colleague, Cllr Brian O'Loughlin, said that he also agreed with his sentiments, and added: "I think that Irish Rail needs a serious kick to show them these issues; we need to see more action on this."

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SIMILAR MOTION

Immediately after this motion was discussed, a similar motion by Mayor Heavey was heard.

As part of this motion, Mayor Heavey requested for KCC to "engage with Irish Rail to discuss how weight restrictions may be
applied to local rail bridges in Newbridge area".

His motion was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Suzanne Doyle.

Along with reiterating his comments about the presence of traffic on the bridges, Mayor Heavey also highlighted issues that arise whenever two heavy vehicles — "such as gravel lorries" — meet each other on the bridges.

Mayor Heavey concluded by saying that he wanted KCC to send a letter describing the councillors' concerns to to Irish Rail.

Cllr Doyle then said that she "acknowledged" Cllr McDonnell's suggestion to delist the bridges.

She also claimed: "Unless bricks are falling down from the bridge onto the tracks, then Irish Rail don't seem to be interested [in resolving the issue]."

In addition, Cllr Doyle asked KCC: "Could we implement side-bridges, similar to the ones on the main bridge in Newbridge? Could we explore that?"

Replying to her query, Mr Hodgins said: "Physically, it is possible to have temporary bridges", but also told Cllr Doyle that there would be funding concerns.

He further said: "We can include that suggestion in a letter to Irish Rail; I do know that when it comes to the National Transport Authority (NTA), they prefer to come down to a Full Council Meeting."

Cllr Doyle also said: "I think that the Mayor of the County should be at this meeting too."

After a brief discussion, it was agreed that KCC would write to Irish Rail about the issues facing the two approach roads and bridges.

LEFT: Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell. Photograph credit: kildarecoco.ie / RIGHT: Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey. Photograph credit: Martin Connelly

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.