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Bridge Maintenance During Recession and Beyond

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  • 14-06-2011 4:39pm
    #1
    veryangryman
    Registered Users Posts: 5,540 ✭✭✭


    Specifically the Shannon bridges...

    The river represents the major barrier east-west. I have heard recently that there is no more money to maintain the Shannon railway bridge @ Athlone - this would lead to buses needing to be used west of Athlone.

    The rumour made me think... Asides from this being a disgrace, what would happen if the main road bridges were to become unusable/collapse? Any opinions/thoughts?


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    #2
    Godge
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21,727 ✭✭✭✭Godge


    What do you deem as the main road bridges?

    If you just mean the N4, N5, N6 and the Shannon tunnel, I am sure money would be found to make any necessary repairs. Wasn't there repair work on the bridge at Termonbarry on the N5 about two years ago - I remember being diverted at Longford one weekend?

    The tunnel at Limerick shouldn't need any work for years. The crossing at Athlone is fine as well. My only question is on Carrick-on-Shannon. Is there a plan to replace that bridge?

    Those four crossings are the national strategic ones. They seem ok, so what is the problem you foresee?


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    #3
    veryangryman
    Registered Users Posts: 5,540 ✭✭✭veryangryman


    Godge wrote: »
    What do you deem as the main road bridges?

    If you just mean the N4, N5, N6 and the Shannon tunnel, I am sure money would be found to make any necessary repairs. Wasn't there repair work on the bridge at Termonbarry on the N5 about two years ago - I remember being diverted at Longford one weekend?

    The tunnel at Limerick shouldn't need any work for years. The crossing at Athlone is fine as well. My only question is on Carrick-on-Shannon. Is there a plan to replace that bridge?

    Those four crossings are the national strategic ones. They seem ok, so what is the problem you foresee?

    Its just a "what if" scenario really. Eg a bombing or something unforseen like that. Would money be made available in such situ do you think?


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    #4
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    the shannon railway bridge near carrick on shannon is brand new.


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    #5
    sonyair
    Registered Users Posts: 242 ✭✭sonyair


    €1m Sarsfield Bridge revamp on the way


    WORK will commence on a programme of upgrading of Sarsfield Bridge.

    The cost involved will be in the region of €1million.



    Senior engineer with Limerick City Council, Pat Eyres, told the Limerick Post that the work will be carried out at low tide periods during the summer months.

    The bridge, which was opened as Wellesley Bridge in 1835, following eleven years of construction, was based in design on the Pont Neuilly Bridge in Paris, and is a protected structure.

    Mr Eyres explained that work will have to be carried out to the parapets of the bridge, as well as to underground water works

    “It has been identified that work is required on the bridge parapets and we will also be removing the period lamps from the bridge parapets, as these also need attention.

    “An underwater analysis carried out a few years ago identified a potential problem - there was some movement of one of the piers, which has been showing stress”.

    Mr Eyres said that when the lamps are removed for restoration and upgrading works, consideration will also be given to the restoration of the bridge footpaths, in line with the council’s ongoing work on the riverside restoration works.

    “The lamp standards are showing a lot of stress, as are the water piers, due to the high floods during the past few years. and we’ve also had a conservation specialist look at the lighting for the bridge”.

    Asked if the work involved will necessitate a closure of the bridge for any length of time, Mr Eyres confirmed there will be “minimal disruption”.

    He revealed that the council will receive “some government funding” for the project and that tenders for the contract will be sought.

    The second of Limerick’s river crossings, Sarsfield Bridge was 11 years in construction and when completed, was a particularly important development for the city as it allowed expansion to the northern shore of the river .


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    #6
    DWCommuter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,032 ✭✭✭DWCommuter


    Sponge Bob wrote: »
    the shannon railway bridge near carrick on shannon is brand new.

    The Shannon railway bridge in Athlone is not.


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    #7
    dubhthach
    Registered Users Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭dubhthach


    DWCommuter wrote: »
    The Shannon railway bridge in Athlone is not.

    True though it's managed to stay up for over 160 years ;) Of course if it had to be closed for prolonged period due to lack of maintenance you would probably end up with the mass-flight of rail passengers to intercity buses. After all the non-stop buses currently beat the train on terms of price and speed.


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    #8
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users Posts: 17,558 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    veryangryman wrote: »
    Specifically the Shannon bridges...

    The river represents the major barrier east-west. I have heard recently that there is no more money to maintain the Shannon railway bridge @ Athlone - this would lead to buses needing to be used west of Athlone.

    The rumour made me think... Asides from this being a disgrace, what would happen if the main road bridges were to become unusable/collapse? Any opinions/thoughts?

    I find this sort of rumour and innuendo frankly ridiculous.

    Why do people believe this sort of nonsense?


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    #9
    KevR
    Registered Users Posts: 3,110 ✭✭✭KevR


    I know it's a "what if" scenario but here's my two cents:

    They can manage to charge €29.40 for weekend return (Athlone-Galway) but they allegedly can't manage to scrape the money together to maintain the Shannon Bridge?!

    Buses between Athlone and Galway are absolutely w@nk. They are always late and the majority of them take an age to travel the 80km. You get what you pay for - the bus is a lot cheaper than the train but the bus is woeful in comparison.

    I don't own a car at the moment because I walk to work and get the train home to Galway at weekends but I would buy a car straight away if there are ever no trains West of Athlone.


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    #10
    flazio
    Registered Users Posts: 12,852 ✭✭✭✭flazio


    I can't see the bridge getting closed down and left to fall into disrepair, for one thing it's a landmark for Athlone in the same way that Harland & Wolff's ship cranes are a landmark for Belfast. There is no way that Athlone Town council would let that bridge become an eyesore.
    Worst case scenario I can see if the bridge does close it'll be for maintenance and there will be bus transfers as far as Ballinasloe (or maybe the reopening of the west side station but that would almost cost as much as any bridge works.)


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    #11
    dowlingm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,312 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    flazio wrote: »
    I can't see the bridge getting closed down and left to fall into disrepair, for one thing it's a landmark for Athlone in the same way that Harland & Wolff's ship cranes are a landmark for Belfast. There is no way that Athlone Town council would let that bridge become an eyesore
    Why would they have any more success than when Limerick Co. Co. were prevented from designating Limerick-Foynes as historic?


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