Old kilcarn bridge under threat

 If Navan’s Old Kilcarn Bridge is allowed to collapse, there will be serious disruption to gas supplies and broadband in the south of the town, a local resident has warned.
Broadband and gas pipelines are carried across the Boyne by the historic 400 year old bridge, which it is claimed is in danger of collapsing into the river.
The bridge, which had been used by walkers and fishermen up until last February, was closed on safety grounds at that time.
It was closed to vehicular traffic nearly 40 years ago, with the opening of a new bridge across the Boyne.  
Local resident Paul McQuillan  points out it was closed to pedestrians when engineers examined the bridge last February.
“We have had one of the driest summers on record since and nothing was done to protect the bridge.
“Once the storms start and the river goes into flood, there could be huge damage.
“If it collapses the whole south side of the town could end up without gas or broadband because the pipleines are carried across the bridge,” he said.
Cllr Shane Cassells said there needs to be swift and immediate action taken on the protection of the bridge, which is not just a piece of our heritage but also is being used to carry gas and communication networks to most of Johnstown.
“I will be seeking formal answers from the Chief Executive at the Navan Municipal Authority meeting on what exactly has been done to access funding from the OPW and government to save this bridge.”
If the bridge falls into the river and collapses the gas and broadband connections, then it is going to cost a whole lot more to sort this situation.”
A spokesperson for Meath County Council said the old Kilcarn bridge has been closed to traffic for many years and was closed to pedestrians following an inspection carried out after the storm damage earlier this year.
“The Council is currently pursuing an application for funding made to the Department of Environment Community and Local Government as a result of this storm damage. This application is still under consideration by the Department.
A spokesperson for Eircom said their local teams are currently assessing the impact to this infrastructure should the bridge collapse, but they believed that it is highly unlikely that a collapse of the bridge would pose a significant threat to the overall broadband infrastructure in the town of Navan.
Bord Gáis Networks aid they were in contact with Meath County Council in relation to the bridge.