Further delays to Ennis footbridge plans

THE long-awaited construction of a footbridge over the railway line on the Quin Road in Ennis has been hit by more delays, with Clare County Council confirming to The Clare Champion that the project is to be re-tendered.
It is envisaged that it will take between four and six months to appoint a new contractor to the much-anticipated project. Tenders had originally been invited for the project in 2009, however it was a further two years before Iarnod Éireann and the Railway Safety Commission sanctioned the project. The contracting firm has now told Clare County Council it is not in a position to construct the bridge, due to increasing material costs.
Ennis West Electoral Area Councillor James Breen has raised concerns about public safety on the bridge, calling for urgent action to be taken “before someone is seriously injured”.
According to Councillor Breen, “When people in Bruagh na hAbhain, Quin Road, Ennis bought their houses they were charged a planning levy of €10,000 per house to pay for facilities such as water, lightening, footpaths and so on, on the understanding that a footpath would be provided from their houses to Station Road. Still today people have to cross the railway bridge without the aid of a footpath.”
In 2006, Councillor Breen received a letter from Donal Buckley, then assistant county engineer, stating, “Clare County Council are presently preparing plans to construct a new footbridge over the railway on the Quin Road. Discussions are at a very early stage with Iarnrod Éireann regarding their approval. I will update you in the new year.”
Councillor Breen said, “Needless to say, I am still waiting for the update six years on. This is an extremely busy road because of the high volume of traffic due to the business parks and the many new housing estates along the Quin Road. I have seen people crossing this bridge pushing baby buggies on mart days, which is extremely dangerous and I am now publicly calling on the county manager to intervene and ensure something is done before someone is seriously injured on this bridge.”
Responding to Councillor Breen’s concerns, Tom Tiernan, senior engineer for Clare County Council, stated, “Clare County Council is keen to progress this project as soon as is practicable to, due to ongoing concerns for pedestrians and cyclists using the existing road bridge”.
He outlined, “In 2009, Clare County Council invited tenders to facilitate the construction a footbridge over the railway line on Quin Road in Ennis. It was proposed that the footbridge be located adjacent to the existing road bridge to accommodate the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.
“Clare County Council submitted a proposal to construct the footbridge to Iarnrod Éireann in 2009. In addition, the council was advised then that the Railway Safety Commission would have to approve the design and this process was initiated through Iarnrod Éireann. On foot of the tender process, a contractor was advised of the council’s intention to appoint him once the approval awaited from the RSC was confirmed. Unfortunately, this approval process turned out to be more protracted than expected.
“In December 2011, Iarnrod Éireann and the Railway Safety Commission sanctioned the proposed development. In recent weeks, however, the contracting firm confirmed that it would not be in a position to construct the footbridge due to a significant increase in the cost of materials in the intervening two-year period.
“The contract would have been getting underway about now in the event that the original contractor was in a position to stand over his tender price submitted in 2009.”
Mr Tiernan concluded, “Unfortunately, there is now no option other than to recommence the tender process and we intend to proceed on this basis in the coming weeks. The council anticipates that it will take four to six months to appoint a new contractor and commence work on the project.”
Councillor Brian Meaney has also urged the council to move on bringing the footbridge to fruition without delay.
“The tender process will have to take account the delays the multiagency involvement could bring to this vital bridge and make sure this project is completed without any further excuses.
“The local authority should seek, if possible, to give the contract to the next best offer from the existing tender process, rather than engage in further delays,” he said.