Campaign calls for cross-county footbridge to be reopened

A campaign is underway to have a footbridge linking Clare and Limerick at Plassey reopened for the benefit of hundreds of local walkers, runners and fishermen who frequently used the crossing.
Limerick East Labour Deputy Jan O’Sullivan has written to Waterways Ireland and contacted Limerick County Council in an effort to have the Black Bridge, situated near the Plassey fishermen’s huts, re-opened.
Closed to the public since November 22 following severe flooding on the River Shannon, it now requires a structural survey costing an estimated €100,000.
“As a regular walker on the Plassey Bank, I have had dozens of conversations with people from all parts of Limerick and South-East Clare who love the area and they are determined to have the bridge re-opened,” stated Deputy O’Sullivan.
The footbridge, which dates back to about 1840, has been in almost continuous use for about two centuries. Some of the timber supporting the piers has rotted away, as confirmed in a preliminary report undertaken by Waterways Ireland, which notified Limerick County Council of the need of a more in-depth survey. Limerick County Council decided to close the footbridge in the interest of public safety.
Although the council have applied to the Department of the Environment to fund a consultant’s report on the damage, it is unlikely that funding will be made available in the near future. If the report shows no further damage, the council believes it will not need a huge amount of money to put it right but that there is little hope of progress this year.
Deputy O’Sullivan has expressed concern about the lack of a definite timescale for the re-opening of the crossing.
“The official response is that following the winter flooding and the lodging of logs and debris against the bridge, the posts holding up the bridge are deemed unsafe. To date, we do not have any information on the cost or whether there is even a plan to repair the bridge.
“I would be very interested to hear from people who wish to come together and campaign to have the bridge repaired and re-opened.
“It is easy to say that the new university bridges further up the canal can take the place of the Black Bridge. However, there are hundreds of walkers, runners and fishermen who always used this bridge and we are determined that a plan is put in place to repair the bridge as soon as is practically possible,” she said.
Limerick County Council engineer, Finbarr Keys told The Clare Champion that efforts are being made to secure funding to carry out a preliminary assessment.
Mr Keys explained that two of wooden piles supporting the 13 different piers are badly weakened and require a proper assessment to assess the full extent of the damage.
He confirmed the council had also hired consultants to carry out monthly inspections of the piers to see if their condition is deteriorating.