Renewed safety concerns over damaged Ballykeeran Bridge

Ballykeeran Bridge, which has long been an accident blackspot, sustained further damage in recent weeks when chunks of stone were knocked off walls on both sides of it.

The damage, most likely caused by trucks colliding with the narrow bridge outside Athlone, is a serious safety issue according to a local resident who fears the dents to the structure could result in a vehicle going through or over it.

"There have been major accidents and fatalities there over the years," said the local resident, who contacted the Westmeath Independent last week.

"A car could come around there too fast (and go through the bridge wall). Years ago, a car somersaulted and landed on the far side of the bridge. That was only one of several accidents.

"(This damage) happened about a month ago, and when it happens nobody stops to report it or admits that they did it. The lorries just hit against the bridge and keep going."

The local resident, who didn't wish to be named, felt that despite being part of Athlone's main thoroughfare to Longford and Cavan, the bridge has been badly neglected by the authorities over the years.

"We got a walkway installed there in 2004, and only for that you couldn't walk that bridge. It's been so neglected," he said.

"Last August there was a major sewerage burst, a pipe burst, on the bridge and it flowed into the river there for three days before it was even looked at."

A bypass of Ballykeeran has been discussed for decades. As far back as 2001, a plan for a £1 million bypass of the village was approved by Westmeath County Council, but two decades on this still hasn't taken place.

The resident who contacted us felt that traffic lights at the bridge could be a more timely solution to the current safety issues.

"I'd imagine there will have to be traffic lights there eventually, because it's the main road from Longford or Cavan and all these huge articulated trucks are coming and going off to their place of delivery. And even the amount of local traffic using it is huge."

Pat Nally, the council's district engineer for the Athlone area, said on Wednesday that the bridge would be examined and that if repairs were needed the local authority would be looking to have them carried out in the near future.