New Kerbing on Milford Bridges.

David09

Anyone from around Milford or those who pass through the area will notice the roadworks in the past couple of weeks to fit kerbing over the narrow bridges.

Personally I just cannot see the point of it. It's a total waste of money and seems like a case of the county council spending their excess budget before the end of the year.

The kerbs are a danger; very easy to hit one and destroy a wheel and tyre and they only serve to make the narrow bridges even narrower, creating a greater chance of two cars colliding. They are useless for pedestrians as they aren't comfortably wide enough to walk on.

Just over the road, a few hunderd metres away, the stone wall is demolished and the council say they won't be replacing it, yet they spend lots of money on expensive pointless kerbing... Like wtf???

Victor

So you would prefer to hit the bridge parapet and maybe go through it?

If you can't drive without hitting the kerb, slow down.

David09

Victor wrote: »

So you would prefer to hit the bridge parapet and maybe go through it?

If you can't drive without hitting the kerb, slow down.

Have you been down that way and seen the new kerbs?

It's a narrow bridge. You keep in tight to the left to avoid any oncoming car with the potential result of clattering the left hand front wheel off the raised kerbing. It's not a matter of speed. One would be driving at less than 10mph in the circumstances.

Victor

Here? http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Milford,+Carlow&hl=en&ll=52.780755,-6.963744&spn=0.012226,0.038581&sll=53.401034,-8.307638&sspn=6.172386,19.753418&vpsrc=6&hnear=Milford&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=52.780663,-6.963879&panoid=Y_8Wx_6PkJPuq-O7xslf3A&cbp=12,48.95,,0,5.11

Never been there. However, a truck or coach could easily go through those parapets. I wouldn't be racing around blind corners or over a hump back bridge either.

David09

I wouldn't be "racing" either.

Yes, the picture is right. If you take a look and imagine it with 1 metre kerbing on either side. The traffic is now forced to drive closer to the centre of the road while meanwhile the oncoming cars are forced to do the same.

It's a ridiculous waste of money that will increase the risk of an accident.

David09

Victor wrote: »

Here? http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Milford,+Carlow&hl=en&ll=52.780755,-6.963744&spn=0.012226,0.038581&sll=53.401034,-8.307638&sspn=6.172386,19.753418&vpsrc=6&hnear=Milford&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=52.780663,-6.963879&panoid=Y_8Wx_6PkJPuq-O7xslf3A&cbp=12,48.95,,0,5.11

Never been there. However, a truck or coach could easily go through those parapets. I wouldn't be racing around blind corners or over a hump back bridge either.

There is a 3.5 ton weight restriction, hence trucks and coaches are banned from using those roads, alas they don't always obey the rules.

Super-Rush

Sure the money could have been put to better use but its not going to hinder traffic.

Two cars couldn't pass each other on the bridge anyway. You have to stop and let the oncoming vehicle pass before proceeding.

I'm sure a path a metre wide is sufficient for people to walk on in fairness.

ShayK1

http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Milford,+Carlow&hl=en&ll=52.780755,-6.963744&spn=0.012226,0.038581&sll=53.401034,-8.307638&sspn=6.172386,19.753418&vpsrc=6&hnear=Milford&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=52.780663,-6.963879&panoid=Y_8Wx_6PkJPuq-O7xslf3A&cbp=12,48.95,,0,5.11


Are we talking about that bridge ^^

Or this bridge?

http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Milford,+Carlow&hl=en&ll=52.781741,-6.966448&spn=0.015185,0.038581&sll=53.401034,-8.307638&sspn=6.172386,19.753418&vpsrc=0&hnear=Milford&t=m&layer=c&cbll=52.781762,-6.966677&panoid=BmBgZqgldfS9cuhW-7E_CQ&cbp=12,106.86,,0,13.36&z=15


The top one is plenty wide for 2 way traffic.
Its the 2nd one that is narrow.

To answer your question OP, no I haven't been out there or seen it however similar activity has been going on at Killerig Cross. Nice new curbing laid down and I can't see the point of it.

byhookorbycrook

ShayK1 wrote: »

To answer your question OP, no I haven't been out there or seen it however similar activity has been going on at Killerig Cross. Nice new curbing laid down and I can't see the point of it.

I presume Killerig work was to clear sight-lines on the cross,the road from Hackettstown was almost blind during the summer with weeds

ShayK1

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

I presume Killerig work was to clear sight-lines on the cross,the road from Hackettstown was almost blind during the summer with weeds

That's possible.

testicle

David09 wrote: »

It's a narrow bridge. You keep in tight to the left to avoid any oncoming car with the potential result of clattering the left hand front wheel off the raised kerbing. It's not a matter of speed. One would be driving at less than 10mph in the circumstances.

You need to improve your spatial awareness and realise where the left hand side of your car is.

tommycahir

Lets keep it civil and remember to attack the post and not the poster, any personal attacks will result in a vacation from the forum.

Carlow2011

Did you contact the Council to find out why the work is being done? Maybe if you went to the effort rather than make ridiculous statements like this is being done to use up a budget.

ShayK1

/gets popcorn

slimjimmc

My money is on the appearance of a single Yield sign at one end of the bridge (or a pair of traffic lights) making it a single file crossing. They've done similar elsewhere.

Super-Rush

Carlow2011 wrote: »

Did you contact the Council to find out why the work is being done? Maybe if you went to the effort rather than make ridiculous statements like this is being done to use up a budget.

It wouldn't be the first time a county council done something to use up money.

Carlow2011

So you think this is tha case here?

Super-Rush

Well i can think of several better uses for that money.

Carlow2011

Even though the assessment of the bridges stated the works needed to be done within 12 - 24 months or there would be severe structural damage resulting in the bridges closing and costing a multiple to remedy?

Super-Rush

What about the state of the roads in the Myshall, Garyhill, Fenagh areas?

They've been in dire need of repair for years.

How does putting a kerb on the road increase the strength of a bridge?

Carlow2011

It doesn't

Super-Rush

So how does a kerb stop the structural damage to the bridge?

Carlow2011

Deals with the problem that's causing the damage - water

Super-Rush

How?

Carlow2011

Keeps it from infiltrating between, deck and spandrel

steder

Havent seen this yet but is there a chance that they done the kerbing to stop trucks crossing the bridges which would help stop the structral damage;)

Carlow2011

Gardai there for a few minutes would sort trucks

steder

They cant be there all day every day and im sure they have better things to be doing.
As i say i havent seen the kerbs yet but its the only logical reason for them doing it.

tom traubert

Well, the bridges re-opened today having been shut for two days for re-surfacing works on both of them.

The kerbs puzzled the bejasus out of me last week, as well as the OP, but Carlow2011 has dealt with that (or else is a master bullsh1tter).

The net result is that the bridges are beeyoootifully finished now. 'Shame the stretch of road between the navigation cut and the main river wasn't done also. I guess the fact that it was a specialist contractor meant that they were hired in for the bridges only.

bogof

Total waste of taxpayers money.

Carlow2011

Why?

David09

Carlow2011 wrote: »

Why?

Because it seems to be unnecessary.

Like every government department, they are given an annual budget. If it's not spent, they won't get the same figure next year. It's in their interests to waste any surplus money so to empty the piggy bank before the next financial year.

To me, the kerbing work stinks of this.

Carlow2011

Obviously a lack of understanding of how bridges structures work that's ok