Farmers angry over disruption by bridge restrictions

ANGRY farmers claim they are facing a difficult silage season because of detours caused by height restriction barriers at an old bridge.

While farmers say they appreciate that urgent work is needed on the historic bridge at Crossbarry, Co Cork, they oppose the erection of height restriction barriers along with weight restriction signs.

They argue that fully loaded silage trailers would weigh less than the 7 tonne restriction placed on the bridge. But because of the 2.9 metre height restriction trailers are unable to pass.

Farmer John O’Sullivan said detours of up to five miles would be experienced by farmers during the silage season, which will get underway shortly and continue until the end of August.

“School buses can’t get through either. We’re all concerned with protecting infrastructure, but detours of four to five miles are having to be made down very narrow roads,” he said.

Local man Martin Desmond said the situation also presented difficulties for bulk tanker drivers collecting milk. Dan Murphy, who owns an engineering business, said he was also experiencing problems.

“We get deliveries in from Europe and its next to impossible to direct drivers around small roads to where they can find us,” Mr Murphy said.

Cork County Council decided to put up the restrictions after a report by Malachy Walsh consulting engineers found the bridge, thought to be 300 years old, was in danger of collapsing.

Councillors Alan Coleman, Jerry Deasy, Frank Metcalfe and Kevin Murphy spoke to Crossbarry residents yesterday and are to organise a deputation to meet council officials to discuss the problem.

Cllr Coleman said he’d been informed that tender documents for the bridge strengthening work would be ready at the end of this month and a contractor should be on site by June.

“It is hoped that the work will be finished by the end of August,” he said.