New Trim footbridge expected to be complete in August

The new steel pedestrian bridge to replace the doomed Millennium Bridge in Trim is expected to be in place in August of this year.

The wooden Millennium Bridge was closed due to health and safety concerns in 2022 and subsequently demolished and a temporary bailey bridge was installed by the defence forces to maintain access to the Porchfields from Trim Castle and the town centre.

Contracts are due to be signed next month with the preferred tenderer for the construction of the replacement bridge which will be fabricated off site and lowered into position on the existing abuttments by crane.

Four design options were presented to councillors back in 2023 who decided to proceed with the steel warren truss design which is fabricated off site and then lowered onto the abutments by crane. The new structure will be slim in appearance and painted grey. Planning permission was granted by Bord Pleanala for the project last year.

Advance works including removal of the bailey bridge are required and this is due to happen next month. In an update at their January meeting, councillors were told that works to remove the bridge would begin in the second week of February and that 32 parking spaces would need to be closed off for a three-week period to facilitate the removal of the temporary bridge. This will leave 16 spaces for the duration of these works and vehicle messaging signage will be installed notifying drivers of alternative parking at Emmet Street.

The contractor is expected to begin works in March and the bridge is expected to be completed in August.

The contract completion date indicated is the first quarter of next year but councillor were told the bridge was expected to be completed in August.

Councillors were also told that funding is in place to complete the project.

With no bridge in place for a period of approximately six months, Cllr Paul O'Rourke said it was important that signage be placed around the town to advise people that there is no access to the Porchfields once the bridge is removed.

"It will be a huge loss when it does have to be closed. People need to know that it will be closed before they arrive at that location."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme