Council working to eliminate infamous bridge pinch-point

The latest collision occurred on Wednesday, March 25, just days after issue was flagged by local councillors.

Cavan County Council is undertaking work to rebuild Canningstown Bridge after yet another lorry strike last month left the already notorious crossing badly damaged.

But this time, it’s not just about repairs. In a major shift, the local authority is moving to finally eliminate the bridge’s infamous “pinch point”- a dangerously narrow stretch that has repeatedly been flagged as a serious hazard and near-miss hotspot for motorists.

The latest collision occurred on Wednesday, March 25, came just days after councillors sounded the alarm over the structure, widely regarded as a high-risk- particularly for heavy goods vehicles.

At the meeting of the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District, officials heard how HGV drivers are routinely forced into perilous manoeuvres to squeeze through the crossing, often with little margin for error.

Senior Area Engineer Clinton Mulligan confirmed that the long-standing issue is now firmly under review, with €125,000 earmarked for 2026 to address the issue.

A tender process- under the banner of the Canningstown Bridge Widening and Junction Improvement Scheme- was launched late last year.