LATEST: Council issue update on works at County Kilkenny bridge
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The bridge connects the counties of Kilkenny and Wexford
Works to repair Ferry Mountgarret Bridge are on course to be completed within its designated timeframe, Kilkenny County Council have confirmed.
The remediation works on the local bridge, which crosses the River Barrow between counties Kilkenny and Wexford, have been timed to cause the least amount of disruption possible.
A survey conducted last summer, revealed that ‘for a bridge of that age’ it is in very good condition. Ferry Mountgarret bridge is almost 100 years old. However, it was deemed work was needed on the structure, including steel work, painting, and work on the cement parapets.
Structural defects on, in and under the bridge were fully assessed in 2025 and funding in the amount of approximately €1.5million was provided by the Department of Transport in the 2026 budget to carry out full repairs of the landmark structure.
As well as a regional road project, the works being undertaken are also conservation works. Complexities and unexpected challenges are usually part of such projects.
The Ferry Mountgarret Bridge closed to traffic from June 24th with that closure in place until August 28th to allow the required works to be delivered as quickly as possible.
The works included stripping of the paint by shot blasting back to its original steel work base underneath and above, the construction of six stories of scaffolding both over and underneath the bridge, the replacement and/or repair of steelwork and concrete structures, the provision of lighting and ducting for services and the rebuilding and resurfacing of the main road carriageway including new parapets, drainage and kerbing.
While complex issues have been encountered during the works, the contractor on site, Glas Civil Engineering Ltd and Tetra Tech Engineering Services, working with Kilkenny County Council staff have reportedly successfully dealt with all challenges arising and the works remain on schedule.
As the contractor progresses to the reinstatement of the main road carriageway three major steps remain. The dismantling and removal of the large scaffolding structure once the final paintwork is completed to the steel structure, the water proofing of the Bridge deck forming the base of the carriageway and the laying of tarmacadam across the new roadway.
The final two elements of the works, water proofing and surfacing will require dry weather at various stages over the next three weeks and minor delays may result.
“This project has been a difficult one and those involved should be congratulated on the delivery of the works to-date, on time and to such a high quality,” a spokesperson for the local authority said in a statement.
“It is important to note that works will continue after August 28th, for approximately one month, under traffic management to carry out remaining works outside of the full road closure,” the spokesperson concluded.