Safety concern over collapsed bridge wall

A call has been made for urgent action to address the dangerous condition of a bridge on the Clonbokage Road, Mountnugent, after concerns were raised about the safety of children and families using the road.

The motion was brought forward by Cllr Noel Connell (SF) at a meeting of the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District. Cllr Connell said the bridge, which is located off the R154, had “actually fallen into the field” and was creating a serious safety risk: “Families are using this road to walk up to the club rooms and for youngsters training football and everything like that,” he said.

“It’s the only road that people can actually walk around there because you have R154. It’s jam packed with traffic all the time.”

Cllr Connell said he had raised the matter with Cavan County Council and had been told that the location was a “very dangerous area”. With the parapet collapsed, people "could fall over the bridge very easily”, he claimed. Cllrs Trevor Smith (FG), Shane P O'Reilly (Ind) and T.P. O’Reilly (FG) supported the motion.

Cllr Smith said the issue was replicated in other locations, noting that “there is a problem in a number of places where bridges have fallen in”.

Cllr O’Reilly also highlighted the wider issue of bridges being damaged, saying: “The work that has been done on the bridges is great. But there is a problem where cars damage them, and no one’s left accountable.”

Area Engineer John McGahern, explained that the bridge rehabilitation grant available through the Department of Transport would not cover the work because the bridge did not meet the criteria for a dangerous bridge. "The substructure of the bridge is actually quite good."

Mr McGahern said Cavan County Council received €697,000 for bridge rehabilitation in 2025, but that funding had been reduced by €27,000 this year. He added that the council’s discretionary funding was already fully committed, with €509,000 spent by June on potholes, roadside drainage and reactive maintenance. “It’s no problem adding that to our list. I can’t say when I’m going to get to it. I genuinely can’t,” he said.

Cllr Connell asked whether barriers could be placed around the bridge in the meantime, given the safety concerns. Mr McGahern confirmed this, but stressed: “It’s not a fix.”

Cllr Connell concluded by expressing frustration: “Ireland is awash with money, and we can’t get these small infrastructure things sorted out,” he said. “I really think we need to put more pressure to get the money.”

Published with support from the Local Democracy Scheme