Mind the gap - North Quays bridge needs more funding
View of the Sustainable Transport Bridge.
On the North Quays, the Sustainable Transport Bridge has fallen short of completion as it was revealed that more funding is needed to finish the construction.
Earlier this month, CEO of Waterford City and County Council, Sean McKeown confirmed that there is a differential of "four, five metres" between the ground floor and the bridge.
At the May meeting of the Metropolitan District Council, Councillor Joe Kelly asked the Waterford Executive about the North Quays and the matter of the "missing link" on the bridge.
The Independent Councillor referenced the query made at an earlier meeting, where it was revealed that an application for funding had been made in order to complete the bridge. Cllr Kelly said: "Why is that, or was that, part of the overall fund for building the bridge? You get funding for the bridge, say 90%, but the last 10% or 15% is not designed in, so then you have to come up with different funding or different designs to get to the landing zone area?"
He continued: "It just seems strange to me, I'm wondering if that was part of the first application for funding the bridge. If it was not, can anybody explain to me why it was not? It seems to me to be a huge gap."
Director of Services Ned Brennan responded to Cllr Kelly that the new railway station on the North Quays required a new design for the landing zone. He said: "My understanding is that the bridge, railway station and South Quay development were designed in a certain way, which didn't necessitate the need for southern entries into the railway station. But as a result of the deal going live, a new design is being put in, that now necessitates the need for a southern entrance to the railway station.
"The level is different to the original level, so that necessitated additional funding to bring the bridge in at the correct level."
