No 'plan B' for future Kilrea Bridge closures

The bridge, which was built in 1783, was closed last September after safety inspections revealed extensive cracking and structural instability on a south-west approach retaining wall.

While the bridge was reopened to cars and small vehicles in December, but the partial closure led to severe disruption to lorries attempting to enter the town and local businesses.

During a deputation from DfI Roads to November’s meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, UUP councillor Richard Holmes asked if DfI Roads had made changes to the inspection schedule of the bridge following the closure.

He said: “There seem to be thousands of bridges and they all have to get checked.

“But the critical nature of that bridge is probably in the top ten or 20 bridges in the entire country for checks, and given its age probably be very high amongst them.”

He also asked if DfI had a Plan B if there was a “catastrophic failure”.

DfI Roads divisional roads manager Alan Keys said: “It’s probably similar to what we had the last time; if any bridge is closed for any reason, then we try and get the repairs done as quickly as possible.

“But it does mean that there will be a period of disruption and that the traffic will have to be diverted.

“Unfortunately it’s magnified to some extent with Kilrea because the nearest crossings are quite some distance away, but we’re not in a position where we could have something just ready to go on-site.”