By Dan Walsh
Cllr Bridín Murphy from Clonroche is the new Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District taking over from Cllr Pat Barden and one of her immediate priorities is to liaise with Council officials and engineering staff for the quick restoration of bridges damaged by the torrential Christmas Day rains across a terrain that stretches from Killanne to the Hook, New Ross to Adamstown and lots of townlands in between.
Cllr Murphy has been checking on the bridges in her district and amazingly two of them are on her doorstep. She has been speaking with the roads engineer who have been updating the position at present.
The road likely to take priority as ‘a regional road’ is the R735 linking Adamstown with Clonroche and on towards Enniscorthy. “This is Aughnaglower Bridge, more commonly known as Chapel Bridge which was badly damaged. The road has completely disappeared as has the bridge,” she added.
Just over the road is Raheen Bridge linking Clonroche with Bree. “The damage is quite deceptive. The bridge is completely washed away underneath. The damage is not visible from the road, and it will take an assessment to determine how to proceed with this.
“Just across the M25 close to Taghmon, Little Cullenstown Bridge has been completely swept away. And the road from Assagart to Little Cullenstown is impassable now.” concluded Cllr Murphy.
Communities have been cut off. Farms are split, and some unfortunate farmers must travel long round distances to care for animals and continue normal business. Some inconvenience for some time but public safety is a priority at this time and Cllr Murphy and her fellow members in New Ross Municipal District will be keeping on the pressure and seeking a fair share of the repairs to the damage that is felt across Co. Wexford since Christmas Day.
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