’Blayney Bridge over River Fane to be bypassed

A long-standing road safety issue in Castleblayney is set to be addressed with the replacement of Ballynacarry Bridge over the River Fane on the N53 concession road in a cross-border initiative.

The project was approved under Planning and Development Regulations at Monday’s meeting of Monaghan County Council.

Senior Executive Planner Toirleach Gourley told the meeting that improvements in the area of the bridge have been proposed for a long number of years. A scheme is now proposed as a multi-agency project involving Monaghan County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure.

Mr Gourley said the bridge will be retained but bypassed by a new section of road that will take away the bad bend in the area. A planning application has been submitted by Monaghan County Council to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and it is hoped this will be the precursor for a funding application.

Cllr Paul Gibbons (SF) said everyone in Castleblayney knew Ballynacarry Bridge very well. Traffic has been getting busier on the route, particularly since the linkage between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queens University.

Cllr Gibbons acknowledged the long campaign for road safety improvements at this location conducted by his predecessor on the County Council, former SF councillor Jackie Crowe. “Jackie was the lone voice for many years,” he stated.

He said that current FG councillor Aidan Campbell has also been raising the issue in recent years. Formally proposing that the project be approved, Cllr Gibbons added: “Anything that helps connect the community in south Armagh with their friends and neighbours in Castleblayney is very much to be welcomed.”

Cllr Peter Conlon (FG), seconding the proposal, said it was great to see the project moving on. He described the location as one prone to accidents, which often created mayhem for those using the route. The road is frequented by people from Dundalk and Carlingford and also carries considerable HGV traffic.

Cathaoirleach P J O’Hanlon (FF) said that, when he first entered the County Council chamber, there was not a meeting when Jackie Crowe didn’t flag this issue and speak most passionately about the need for road safety issues in this location to be addressed.