ESB criticised over lack of action repairing pothole littered bridges in west Wicklow

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

A local councillor has expressed frustration at the lack of action to repair pothole-littered bridges crossing Blessington Lakes.

The three bridges date back to the mid-1930s and were erected after the Poulaphouca Reservoir was formed between 1937 and 1947 by damming the River Liffey at Poulaphouca as part of an ESB project to build a second hydroelectric station in Ireland.

In March of last year, Cllr Gerry O’Neill was informed that Wicklow County Council had sought legal advice from their law department over the matter and Baltinglass Municipal District were informed they could not carry out any works to Knockieran Bridge as the ESB are the owners of the bridges and therefore responsible for maintenance of same.

The ESB subsequently said they are responsible for the maintenance of the structure of the bridges in question while Wicklow County Council is responsible for the maintenance of the road surface.

Raising the issue during the October district meeting Cllr Gerry O’ Neill highlighted the impact it is having on motorists.

“There are a huge number of potholes on the bridges, especially on Knockieran Bridge, which people still must travel over on a daily basis. At the northern section people must drive on the opposite side of the road to avoid the potholes.”

Cllr O’ Neill believes a solution needs to be found.

“Is it that other councillors don’t know much about the issue, but it is important. I’ve been talking about this for a long time now. We should write a letter to the ESB to see what can be done.”

“There are huge amounts of money the ESB are making out of the lake. We have the power to hold public bodies to account.”

“We need to cop on, we’re not taking it seriously enough. We’re going nowhere.”

Of the three bridges, Cllr O’ Neill believes Knockieran is in the worst state.

“The priority would have to be Knockieran Bridge because of the terrible state it is in.”

Cllr O’Neill previously proposed using some of the €19 million allocated towards the Blessington Greenway to instead be spent on a new replacement bridge at Knockieran, which he believes would act as a ‘gateway’ for any plans for the greenway, after an application was refused by An Bord Pleanála in December of last year.

“We need to stop whinging about the lack of investment we get here in the west. We have the power to do something about it.” he added.