Long standing issues with a Kilkenny city railway bridge may now be addressed.
The structure on O’Loughlin Road requires upgrading and KCLR News has learned it’s been included in a number of projects across Carlow and Kilkenny which are understood to be among a multi-million euro spend for regional and local roads announced by Ministers Jack Chambers and Eamon Ryan.
Cllr Andrew McGuinness says Minister Chambers recently visited the site to see for himself why funds were needed; “He stood there with us and watched as people travelling in their cars had difficulties with the blind spot at the bridge and the bottle neck that’s there and he saw first hand the problems that we were trying to express to him and he gave us a commitment that day that he would look into funding for rehabilitation works at that bridge and I’m delighted to say today that he has stood by his word, he has delivered €23,500 for the upgrade of that bridge and we look forward now to the works being completed”.
He adds “We also met with the engineers from the CIE at that bridge and showed them first hand all of the problems we were experiencing, so together with the Minister and the CIE and the lcoal engineers here at Kilkenny County Council I’m now looking forward to seeing all of those problems finally resolved afterI think three generations of my family have raised the issue”.
And Cllr McGuinness notes that while more funding’s needed this allocation “Will definitely get it started, we’ve also requested that CIE would step up to the plate because a lot of the issues, you know, it’s their bridge and contribute as well and I’m sure Kilkenny County Council will have to contribute also, I’m looking forward to seeing that work done and as soon as possible”.