Ardee bypass ‘could take twenty years’ as calls for new footbridge emerge

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Calls have been made for a new pedestrian footbridge to be built across the river in Ardee amid growing concerns about the safety of the existing walkway.

The issue was raised at a recent municipal meeting when Cllr Jim Tenanty highlighted dangers for pedestrians, particularly schoolchildren, using the narrow footpath at the entrance to the Riverside Walk as a shortcut to a nearby school.

Describing the area as “very dangerous”, Cllr Tenanty said the footpath is so narrow that pedestrians can easily step out onto the road.

“They can easily run out onto the road as the footpath is very small,” he said, asking whether plastic bollards could be installed to provide a physical barrier between pedestrians and traffic.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Dolores Minogue also raised concerns about the level of footfall at the bridge and questioned whether widening it could be considered.

“The town is getting busier and the traffic is getting heavier,” she said. “It is the only solution.”

She added that the construction of an additional footbridge across the river could help to alleviate congestion and improve pedestrian safety in the town centre.

Senior Engineer with Louth County Council, Mark Johnston, said the installation of high-visibility plastic bollards could work at the location, although the narrow width of the bridge would need to be taken into account.

“We could look at what would fit there as it is quite narrow,” he told councillors.

Mr Johnston agreed that widening the bridge would be beneficial but warned it would be “a major job”. He also pointed out that the proposed Ardee bypass would significantly reduce traffic volumes through the town centre once completed.

The meeting heard that Louth County Council had previously examined the possibility of constructing a separate footbridge several years ago. At that time, the estimated cost was around €80,000, but Mr Johnston said the figure would likely now be closer to €100,000.

“It was a great idea, but we just couldn’t get any money for it unfortunately,” he said.

Cllr Tenanty suggested that the project could potentially be funded through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

“Maybe that should be the way to go,” he said.

Cllr Minogue cautioned against relying on the bypass to solve the problem, noting that its construction could still be decades away.

“Waiting on the bypass to be built – that could take twenty years,” she said.

The meeting heard that a funding opportunity through the Town and Village scheme could be looked at.