Farmers for Action campaign group presses DfI and Causeway Coast & Glens Council for new Kilrea bridge
Campaign group Farmers for Action is pressing both Causeway Coast & Glens Council and the Department for Infrastructure to build a new bridge across the River Bann at Kilrea.
In late September, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) announced the bridge’s closure due to concerns about the structural stability of a retaining wall on the approach to the bridge.
The Department made an announcement on December 5, saying “temporary stabilisation works at Kilrea Bridge are now well advanced”, adding that the bridge would re-open to cars and light vehicles up to three tonnes on December 6.
However, reports then emerged that the bridge had become blocked due to a lorry getting stuck as traffic began to cross the bridge again.
Representatives from Farmers For Action’s Steering Committee recently met with Department for Infrastructure (DFI) officials in Ballymena on a number of issues, with one of those being a new Bridge across the River Bann at Kilrea.
"Our Steering Committee representatives pushed the DFI officials on a new bridge to be delivered ASAP, as the current bridge even after it has had all its repairs is still only single file traffic, which is causing delays and expense for many of those private individuals and businesses using the bridge,” said Farmers for Action.
"In addition, the excess emissions from vehicles while idling due to traffic lights delay doesn’t sit well with the NI Climate Change Act, not to mention the age and fatigue of the existing bridge.
"DFI responded that the process for a new bridge must begin with Council adding it to their forward plan and then pushing that process all the way to Stormont for support. Therefore, FFA have written to the Planning Committee at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council requesting that they begin the process to deliver a new bridge. FFA have asked for their response ASAP.”
Sean McAuley of FFA added: “Other issues of concern were discussed at the meeting with DFI in Ballymena including an excess of trees at roadsides, planted years ago without thought for the severe storms we now seem to encounter every winter and therefore the danger to life of
falling trees and a request to plant future trees at roadsides well back or not at all.”