New bridge a lifeline for Kerry communities

LIFE has returned to normal for communities on both sides of the River Brick in north Kerry with the opening of a new €1.25 million bridge over the river.

The 36-metre structure replaces an old pontoon bridge that collapsed under the weight of a lorry load of pigs four years ago.

Located at Ballynagare, on a local road linking Lixnaw and Ballyduff, the bridge is used chiefly by local traffic and traffic generated by agricultural activity in the general area.

The absence of a bridge caused serious inconvenience for local commuters between Lixnaw and Ballyduff, some of whom had to make round journeys of up to 15km, and for visitors to Rattoo Round Tower and Rattoo Abbey.

Kerry Co Council secured funding for the overall project from the Department of Transport and construction of the replacement bridge by BAM Civil Engineering began in January 2010.

Road works and bridge construction were completed in October 2010.

The new bridge is a single span, steel truss, structure on raised concrete abutments. The project also allowed for limited improvements to the road network leading to the bridge.

“It is a fantastic job, re-connecting two communities and also ensuring that the local farming community can carry out their work without hindrance,” said Kerry Mayor Pat Leahy, who officially opened the bridge.

The original, 30-metre bridge at Ballynagare was erected several years ago as a temporary structure. Its collapse, in February 2007, resulted in a major follow-up operation involving Kerry County Council, gardaí, Ballybunion Cliff and Coast Rescue, the ISPCA and the Department of Agriculture.

About 50 of the 250 pigs in the articulated lorry drowned, or suffocated, when the rear of the vehicle became submerged in about three metres of water. Most of the surviving pigs had to be put down afterwards.

The truck driver, from Co Tyrone, was later fined €300 when convicted at Listowel Court of careless driving on the occasion.

There was a 12-tonne weight restriction on the bridge, but the truck was found to be carrying almost four times the allowed weight.