New bridge in Waterford city left incomplete as funding sought for ‘missing link’

Funding will be required to fill in a “missing link” of the sustainable transport bridge in Waterford city, a council meeting has heard.

Independent councillor Joe Kelly raised the issue at the May plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Kelly said: “On the North Quays and what people are referring to as the missing link, perhaps I missed the answer to this before.

“Am I correct in thinking that the developer is finishing the landing zone, if you want to call it that, on the North Quays?

“A few people have asked me about that and to be honest, I wasn’t certain and I thought it was the developer but I’m checking just in case I’m wrong.

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“I’m just wondering who’s going to fill in that 40 feet or whatever it is gap.”

In response, Sean McKeown, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council, said that the council will have to seek funding to fill in the gap.

“In relation to the North Quays, there is a podium required. The sustainable transport bridge is effectively tied into the South Quays but it needs to be properly tied into the North Quays.

“There is a differential of four to five metres between the ground floor for want of a better word of the site and where the bridge currently hangs.

“A podium is required and we’ve submitted an application under the Housing Application Fund for funding in conjunction with the Land Development Agency for funding to develop the podium.”

He concluded by saying that the podium will provide access to the six apartment blocks planned for the first phase of the North Quays private development.

Social Democrats councillor Mary Roche had raised the same issue at the council’s meeting the previous month.

However, on that occasion, Cllr Roche was told that Harcourt Developments was responsible for the development of the podium.

Acting Director of Services Seán Dobbs said: “They will then be building the public plaza which will be the landing point for the bridge.

“They will create the landing point and the connection with Dock Road. That work will be ongoing this year, into next year.”

He concluded by saying that the plaza near the bridge on the North Quays would be “quite expansive”.