Work is to start within ten weeks on the widening of the bridge at Claregalway as part of the €6 million campaign to address the flooding problems along the River Clare which forced hundreds of householders from their homes last winter.
In a report to be launched before an invited audience in Claregalway this morning (Thursday ), Minister Martin Mansergh will reveal a plan that will see components of dredging work, bridge widening and bridge-building in a bid to avert the mass flooding which left the village and more than a dozen townlands under water last November.
The Advertiser understands that the €6 million plan will see the bridge at Claregalway widened and its base altered to allow a greater degree of water to flow under and that this work will start in less than 10 weeks.
The work will undoubtedly cause severe traffic chaos on the busy N17 as the bridge would need to be closed in its entirety if the work is to be completed before winter. However, there are calls for single lane traffic to be allowed use the bridge so that the project will advance.
The matter will be discussed by staff at Galway County Council in the coming weeks.
Dredging and clearing of the river will also be undertaken downstream of Claregalway towards the mouth of the river, while further works will be carried out upstream of the village.
There are hopes that plans to build a new bridge at Crusheen will advance once funding is secured from the Department of Transport. In a detailed report, there are also plans to tackle individual flood plains in areas such as Montiagh and Kiltrogue.
Deputy Frank Fahey, who along with local councillor Malachy Noone, has been actively pursuing the objectives of the plan, said last evening that he would hope that the work on the bridge should commence as soon as possible and that the road only be partially closed. He said that there was evidence in Leenane and in Malahide that bridgeworks could be constructed without adversely affecting traffic flow.
He also welcomed confirmation from Minister Mansergh that officials from the OPW met with engineers from Galway City Council on site at Menlo on Friday last. At the meeting it was agreed that Galway City Council would price the pipelaying element of the proposed scheme and associated works and that OPW would carry out a similar exercise on the acquisition of the pump and fittings. It is hoped that the Council will submit a revised application for funding under the Minor Works Scheme to the OPW for consideration this week or early next week.
Welcoming this development, Deputy Fahey added "It is excellent news to see that a revised funding application, in line with the wishes of the residents, which will see water piped directly from the turlough to Lough Corrib, instead of the original proposal which would have seen the water piped from the turlough to a swallow hole.
