Department for Infrastructure admits 'no contingency plan' for any future closure of Kilrea Bridge

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has said that there is no contingency plan for any future closure of the Kilrea Bridge.

The bridge, which was built in 1783, was closed last September after safety inspections revealed extensive cracking and structural instability on a south-west approach retaining wall.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) says there is no contingency plan for any future closure of the Kilrea Bridge.

placeholder image — The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) says there is no contingency plan for any future closure of the Kilrea Bridge.

While the bridge was reopened in December to cars and small vehicles, the partial closure lead to severe disruption to lorries attempting to enter the town and local businesses.

During a deputation from DfI Roads to November’s meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, UUP councillor Richard Holmes asked if DfI Roads had made changes to the inspection schedule of the bridge following the closure.

Councillor Holmes asked if the inspection schedule had been changed for Kilrea Bridge, or if there was a “Plan B” in place if it needed to close again (pic: CCGBC).

“There seem to be thousands of bridges and they all have to get checked,” he added. “But the critical nature of that bridge is probably in the top ten or 20 bridges in the entire country for checks, and given its age probably be very high amongst them.”

Councillor Holmes also asked if DfI had a Plan B if there was a ‘catastrophic failure’ at the bridge.

DfI Roads’ Divisional Roads manager, Alan Keys, said all bridges are subject to thorough inspection every seven years and intermediate inspections every one or two years.

“The biggest risk for a bridge like that is probably scar, which is under the piers being undermined and maybe in flood conditions,” he explained.

“So there’s particular attention paid to that in those types of places, but I think the latest [showed] there were no concerns on that.”

Responding to councillor Holmes, who reiterated his query about a Plan B for the bridge, Mr Keys said: “It’s probably similar to what we had the last time; if any bridge is closed for any reason, then we try and get the repairs done as quickly as possible.

“But it does mean that there will be a period of disruption and that the traffic will have to be diverted.

“Unfortunately it’s magnified to some extent with Kilrea because the nearest crossings are quite some distance away, but we’re not in a position where we could have something just ready to go on-site.”