Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Feb 1991

Vol. 404 No. 9

Written Answers. - River Suir Bridge.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

177 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the many problems with traffic flows in Waterford city, he views the provision of a second river crossing as being an absolute priority; the proposals he has to get this project underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

In 1968, Waterford Corporation made application under the Local Government Act, 1946, for the construction of a high level bridge across the Suir upstream of Redmond Bridge and further submissions were made in the succeeding years in support of the proposal.

However, following receipt of a report by the corporation's consultants in 1979 on the hazardous condition of the existing Redmond Bridge, it was decided that the replacement of this bridge should take precedence over the proposal for a new high level bridge.

The corporation proceeded with the replacement of Redmond Bridge and associated approach roads and the work was completed in 1987. The scheme was funded 100 per cent from road grants provided by my Department which totalled £14.05 million.

In 1979, Waterford Corporation was informed that a public local inquiry would be held into its application for a bridge order for a high level bridge when it had clarified the position in regard to the acquisition of the necessary land. It was also intimated that the replacement of Redmond Bridge would afford the corporation an opportunity to review the implications of the high level bridge proposal, particularly in regard to environmental and financial aspects and present and future traffic needs, and that information of this nature would need to be available for an inquiry into the bridge order application. It is a matter for Waterford Corporation to compile the necessary information for submission to my Department.

It is now primarily a matter for the corporation to decide whether further consideration should be given to this proposal which will have to be examined very closely in relation to the level of funding required compared to the benefits to be derived from it. Provision is not made for the commencement of the project in the operational programme on peripherality which covers the period to the end of 1993.