Busy Carlow bridge to close for day ahead of Christmas to carry out safety works

A temporary full road closure has been confirmed for a local bridge in Carlow next week, with motorists advised to plan ahead and use alternative routes.

Carlow County Council has announced that the L20041 roadway at Mill Park Bridge, off the Knockananna Road in Hacketstown, will be closed on Monday, December 22, subject to weather conditions and progress of works. The closure will be in place from 8.00am to 4.30pm.

The bridge, which locals will recognise as being adjacent to the Hacketstown Water Treatment Plant, is set to undergo corrective works following recent damage to its railings. The council said the railings have been “extensively damaged” and repairs are required to ensure the safety of all road users.

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During the works, the road will be fully closed to through traffic, with manned traffic control points in place on either side of the bridge.

Local access for residents and landowners will be maintained up to these control points, the council stressed that there will be strictly no access across the bridge itself due to its narrow width.

Alternative routes will be clearly signposted, with traffic advised to divert from Millpark Cross back into Hacketstown village, then out the R747 Kiltegan Road towards Kilmacart and Ballybrack More, and vice versa.

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Carlow County Council has apologised for the inconvenience caused and said every effort will be made to “remove all restrictions as soon as it is safe for all to do so”.

Motorists travelling in the area on Monday are being encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys and to follow all temporary signage and traffic management instructions.