Delay in repairing Ardstraw bridge seems ‘excessive’

A CASTLEDERG councillor has called for the process of getting roads closed to be streamlined after it took almost four months to get a bridge repaired in the Ardstraw area.

Keith Kerrigan said the bridge had been damaged after being struck in early July, causing four large coping stones to be dislodged.

The DUP Derg councillor reported the incident to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) within a day of it happening, but he said it took until October 16 to get the repairs carried out. Mr Kerrigan said, “I do understand it took a long time due to the narrow bridge. The road had to be closed to facilitate the repairs and these permissions took time to obtain.

“There were fears from residents of Ardstraw that the stones could fall out onto the road, which could cause a road traffic accident, or into the river and be lost, thus causing additional expense, or that a child could get their hand trapped under these large stones.

He added, “The almost four-month timeframe did seem excessive.”

While he welcomed the repairs, the councillor has urged the DfI to streamline the process of getting roads closed, particularly in instances, such as the one in Ardstraw, which took only a few hours to get the repairs carried out.

Meanwhile, Mr Kerrigan also welcomed repair work on a second bridge in the area he represents.

“This bridge, on the Kilclean Road, appears to have been struck on September 3, and was in a general state of poor repair.

“Within the space of less than six weeks, the repairs works were carried out to a very high standard. I wish to record my thanks for the quick and efficient manner in which this was carried out by DfI,” the councillor added.