Kilkenny councillor says shuttle bus 'has to be part of the equation' of North Quays project
The issue is expected to be further discussed at an upcoming meeting that will involve elected members and officials from both Kilkenny and Waterford
Councillors in South Kilkenny have once again raised the uncertain fate of a courtesy shuttle bus service that was envisaged to run across the planned new sustainable transport bridge on the North Quays between Ferrybank and Waterford City.
Councillors noted that the delivery of the service would reduce the amount of traffic that would need to cross the Suir Estuary at Rice Bridge.
Cllr Pat Dunphy raised his unhappiness about recent correspondence received in relation to the shuttle bus.
“The answer we got when attempting to seek clarity was neither here nor there,” he said.
“Surely it had to be part of the original planning application.”
Cllr Fidelis Doherty compared any potential failure to deliver the shuttle bus as being akin to ‘throwing the ethos of sustainability out the window’.
Cllr Ger Frisby concurred, stating that the shuttle bus ‘has to be part of the equation of the whole project’.
“It would take a lot of traffic off the road and would also be very important for elderly people or those who are infirm,” he said.
The issue is expected to be further discussed at an upcoming meeting that will involve elected members and officials from both Kilkenny and Waterford.
Bridge Update
The North Quays Project Team have confirmed that the main river works for the substructure of the sustainable transport bridge are now complete, and the remaining river works to build temporary support piers and pier protection systems will be completed for the arrival of the bridge superstructure from Belgium next spring.
Transport Hub
The reinforced concrete frame of the main transport work is complete and the installation of the roof decking is progressing.