Today finally should see the completion of the £500,000 replacement bridge over the river Rann in Kilmore.
Kilmore Bridge is located on the edge of Kilmore village, Crossgar, and provides the main link between Kilmore and Crossgar across the Annacloy River writes Pat McGreevy.
Residents and the large numbers of commuters who use the route will be very relieved as the project has overrun considerably in time and has been marked by almost constant traffic control or sometimes road closure.
The finishing resurfacing work will hopefully see the contractors vehicles gone which will be a relief to the local residents.
Residents and commuters were alerted to the scheme when signs went up early last year to warn of the traffic disruption that would follow. The signs, however, claimed that work would begin on February 29 2016 and last for twenty weeks. As of today the work has taken over forty six weeks. The projected completion date should have corresponded with the July 2016 holiday break.
It is not clear at this stage why the project took more than twice as long as it should.
However, Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard was upbeat and welcomed the completion of the £500,000 bridge replacement scheme linking Kilmore Village to Crossgar.
Minister Hazzard said: “The £500,000 replacement of Kilmore Bridge is welcome news for the communities in Kilmore and Crossgar and local people. The old bridge, in its previous condition, did not provide a satisfactory link between the two communities. The villages now have a modern bridge providing a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and road users.”
The old Kilmore Bridge dated from the 1920’s and had failed recent loading assessments which resulted in a 10-tonne weight restriction being imposed over the existing bridge. The existing substandard bridge was also considered too narrow for two wide vehicles to pass, and as the bridge is at a junction, this caused additional safety concerns for motorists and pedestrians alike.
The Minister added: “I am determined to put in place the infrastructure needed for this generation and the next. The replacement of the bridge linking Kilmore and Crossgar is hugely important for the people living in this area… improving rural transport connections is fundamental if our rural communities are to thrive. The area now has a modern, safe, well-lit bridge that enhances the village.”
Other improvements include the realignment of the Kilmore Road itself to the village side of the river and improvements to the Rocks Chapel Road approach to the bridge.
TransportNI had carefully planned the works and the associated traffic management arrangements in order to minimise inconvenience to the public. Traffic users and local residents alike will be relieved that the works are now at an end.
