Vol. 421 No. 4
116 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give details of the condition of the timber bridge to the north wall of Dollymount in Dublin 15; when the last full inspection was carried out to the bridge; whether this bridge is safe for motorists and pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Dublin Port and Docks Boards are responsible for the day to day operations and maintenance of the port and the maintenance of the bridge in question is their responsibility.
I have been in touch with the Board and they have informed me that a detailed structural assessment of the bridge was carried out by a firm of consulting engineers in 1981. This assessment stated that the bridge was in sound structural condition to carry vehicles with a gross weight up to five tonnes travelling at not more than 5 mph. The Board carries out annual engineering inspections and any necessary renewals and replacements are also carried out.
The bridge is deemed to be safe for motorists and pedestrians provided the conditions outlined above are adhered to. The Board also stated that any abuse of the load and speed restrictions will weaken the structure and shorten its life.
