Works on decommissioned Kilonerry Bridge need to be 'pushed on'
The updates were heard at a meeting of Piltown Municipal Council in Ferrybank.
Councillors have called for works on the ruined Killonerry Bridge to be 'pushed on'.
The bridge, which connects Piltown to Carrick-on-Suir, was structurally damaged by the floods last November.
At the recent Piltown Municipal District meeting, Cathaoirleach Pat Dunphy said: "We need to push this on now. There's quite a lot to be done but we need to push it on and get it in place."
Area engineer for Kilkenny County Council John Tennyson said that adaptation and safety works had been carried out in the last fortnight.
He stated: "On the Tipperary side, they engaged a contactor to carry a fence and work from their side [and] to secure from their side.
"On the Kilkenny side where abutments have failed, we engaged a contractor to go in with a machine and take out the failed abutment and take down that section of bridge altogether."
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It is understood that a third of the bridge is still standing with one abutment in the river, while the rest of the bridge has been 'completely decommissioned'.
The bridge has been referred back to the Council's Special Capital Delivery and Parks Department office. The office gave the following statement: "The River Lingaun pedestrian bridge at Kilonerry on the Kilkenny / Tipperary border was significantly damaged by a recent flood event and is no longer fit for purpose.
"This bridge is the joint responsibility of the local authorities of Kilkenny and Tipperary.
"Since the bridge was damaged discussions have been ongoing with the respective LA’s and the following course of action has been agreed: To protect public safety Kilkenny Co. Council has removed the damaged section of bridge on the Kilkenny side and Tipperary Co. Council has fenced off access to the bridge on the Tipperary side; Funding to replace the bridge will be sought under the next Call for the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), which is expected in the coming months, and we are currently assessing which ORIS funding Measure is the most appropriate to expediate these works in the shortest timeframe.
"Both local authorities will continue to work in tandem to advance a resolution."
According to Mr Tennyson, both Tipperary and Kilkenny councils are in communications with one another over the matter.
He said: "They're speaking to each other in terms of what is the most practical, either by joint venture or a Section 85 which would be needed by Tipperary to give consent to carry out works in their functional area."
Councillor Fidelis Doherty said: "That's an area that's very much useful for walking and has always been."
