TRAFFIC concerns have been raised as an historic bridge across the Abbey River is set to go under refurbishment.
O’Dwyer’s Bridge which connects Athlunkard Street to the Corbally Roundabout in Limerick City was built in 1931 to replace the Park Bridge, which was built on the same site in 1835 and stood strong until its replacement.
Concerns have now been raised that refurbishment works on O’Dwyers Bridge will cause further delays on the already busy Corbally road, one of the main arteries into and out of Limerick City and a route that would be used increasingly in the coming weeks by parents dropping and collecting students who have just started back at three local schools.
Despite these concerns, there have been assurances that those working on the bridge’s restoration will use scaffolding to access the structure from the water so as to minimise as much as possible any disruption to traffic and pedestrians regularly using the bridge.
Only the footpath on one side of the bridge would be inaccessible while the renovations take place.
While there will be some minor disruptions to traffic, the Council says that parents and students traveling to Ardscoil Mhuire, Scoil Íde, and St Munchin’s College should not experience any significant delays on the school run.
O’Dwyer’s Bridge was named after Edward O’Dwyer, Catholic Bishop of Limerick from 1886 until his death in 1917.
He was a former student of nearby St Munchin’s and helped establish Mary Immaculate Teacher Training College in the city.
