THE closure of a ‘small bridge of immense importance’ so that repair work can be carried out, will result in the cessation of rail services through Limerick Junction in July and N24 diversions in August. And county councillors believe that the timing of the project will affect the influx of summer tourists to the region. Irish Rail have come under fire as they were initially due to repair Oola Bridge and Brooks Bridge in Pallasgreen in October of last year, with a single lane traffic system in place at Oola since March 2011.
The company recently revealed that they would carry out the realignment work in Oola this August, but there are no resources available for the Brooks Bridge repairs.
At a presentation to members of the Castleconnell area committee, Gary Keegan, Community Liaison Officer at CIE, said the stretch of road on the N24 will be closed from midnight on August 19 to midnight the following Sunday to facilitate the work.
“Seemingly people thought nothing was happening but we have been working since February testing the ground and tendering contracts for piling works”.
An open information night on the project will be held in Ballykisteen Hotel on July 24 from 5pm to 8pm.
Rail travellers will also be affected by the work as trains services will not be running for three days of each week in July.
Cllr Harty said it was “desperately disappointing” that the Brooks Bridge repairs would not be carried out.
“The NRA even granted money for the realignment of the road and that allocation will be lost now.
“People have been very worried and businesses have suffered a lack of earnings as motorists won’t stop twice in one place”.
She added that HGV’s continue to use the N24 which will lead to back-ups and delays when the diversion is put in place to accommodate the work.
Mr Keegan explained that Irish Rail will lay on bus transfers and advance train departure times to compensate for longer journeys by road.
Following the completion of work in August the single lane system at Oola will remain in place until September 17.
