KILKENNY County Council has claimed it did not put the wrong name on a new bridge in Thomastown. Controversy erupted after former councillor, Dixie doyle claimed on Friday that a new pedestrian walk way over the river nore in Thomastown should be called Moonteen Bridge and not the officially titled, Dangan Bridge. He claimed that his late father Dick and people living in the area always called in Moonteen and that the name should be changed immediately in the interests of accuracy and fair play.
He claimed that the name Moonteen was legally on the map and that even the post addressed to people living these was Moonteen.
In a strongly worded statement, the council said The new pedestrian bridge is located in the townland of Dangan.
“The existing river bridge (adjacent to the new pedestrian bridge) has historically been referred to as Monteen Bridge or Cody’s Bridge. This river bridge is still in place across the R700 Thomastown/Inistioge Road and is both distinct and separate from the new pedestrian bridge.
The statement went on to say that the new pedestrian bridge enhances pedestrian access between Dangan Terrace and Thomastown through the Dangan townland and, in the longer term, will provide for safe pedestrian access between Thomastown and the Thomastown Relief Road.
It was officially opened on Friday by the chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Michael O’Brien who said the first recorded representations on this issue to provide pedestrian protection to residents in Dangan and elsewhere in Thomastown were made to the local authority in 1982.
“However, its significance today is greater because it is part of the advanced contract for the Thomastown Relief Road, for which I want to acknowledge the input and support for its current status to my elected colleagues – past and present,” Cllr O’Brien said.
The new steel bridge was designed using two spans, given a combined span of 60 metres. The design was undertaken by Clifton Scannell and Emerson Associates Consulting Engineers on behalf of Kilkenny County Council and the Constructed Contract was carried out by Ward &
Burke Construction Ltd.
He had good news for those present. He said the detail design for the thomastown relief road is nearing completion and the land acquisition for Phase 1 of the scheme was completed in 2009. “It is proposed to separate the relief road into two phases. Phase 1 will provide for a new road from the N9 Dublin Road to the R700 Inistioge Road and Phase 2 provides for a new road from the N9 Dublin Road to the R700 Bennettsbridge Road. The combined length of Phase 1 and 2 is 3.4 km.
“As part of the Thomastown Relief Road scheme, footpath provision is proposed along the full extent of the town side of the new road. Therefore, in the future the new pedestrian bridge and footpath provision constructed under the Advance Contract will provide for a continuous safe link for pedestrians accessing the Relief Road from the town. It also provides immediate safety benefits for the residents of Dangan Terrace and the surrounding area, who now have a safe access to walk into town for schools and shopping.
“The other added benefit of the bridge is that it opens up an area, to the public, which is rich in flora and fauna and the information signage provided on the bridge regarding same demonstrates what an important location this is to the ecology of the area.
