Closed road to Castledermot will not re-open this year

There are fears that Millbrook Road near Castledermot will remain closed in the long term after portion of a bridge collapsed in the summer.

However, a local public representative has said there are plans to reinstate, and re-open the road.

The lovely tree-lined thoroughfare between the Athy-Carlow and Athy-Castledermot Roads which crosses the historic Nine-Eye Bridge, was closed in August when a portion at its side collapsed, despite the road being re-surfaced last year.

“It’s a beautiful walk, at the top of the road Kilkea Castle will appear,” said a concerned local.

“We don’t know what they’re doing.

“They said they were waiting for an architectural report, but we don’t know how long that will take.”

He added: “It’s more of a nuisance for locals, because it adds five minutes on the trip into Castledermot, so locals now well just tip into Athy instead.

“Parents on the school run to Kilkea National School now have to detour as well, and Castledermot is losing out.”

However, Cllr Ivan Keatley was quick to allay fears when approached.

The Fine Gael councillor from Castledermot said: “It was raised at a (Municipal District) meeting recently, and they said it’s gone out for tender.”

“The bridge had to be closed for investigative work, and that was completed two weeks ago,” he revealed.

“An agreed design has been put together, it’s gone to tender and we’re just waiting for builders to come back with bids, so it won’t be completed until at least the far side of Christmas,” he said, after checking with the area engineer.

“The roads section (at the council) had no choice but to close the bridge to traffic, because it was in the interest of public safety to do so,” he said.

“It will be done properly in the long run.”

At least there is still one silver lining, now that the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic, more and more locals are able to enjoy a stroll along its leafy way without the hassle of passing cars.