Council open to linking Bridge Centre car park and Main Street with bridge

Tullamore Town Council is amenable to the idea of erecting a pedestrian bridge to link Main Street in the town to the Bridge Centre car park.

Nothing can be done to progress the idea until taking-in-charge applications in relation to the Main Street, Riverwalk and Millennium Square areas have been received by the council, however.

Fine Gael councillor Tommy McKeigue raised the idea of the pedestrian bridge at the July meeting of Tullamore Town Council, held last Tuesday evening.

At that meeting he requested that the council explore the possibilities of getting funding to erect a bridge linking the two areas.

Cllr McKeigue told councillors that Main Street is important to Tullamore, but is struggling.

“That link is missing,” he said. “It can’t be that expensive to put up a bridge,” he commented, adding that now would be the time to pursue such a project as both labour and material is cheap.

Cllr McKeigue’s Fine Gael colleague Molly Buckley seconded the motion, saying it would benefit movement around Tullamore and would also serve to highlight the river in the area.

Tullamore town clerk Martin Daly told councillors the idea is “a key priority” for the council.

However he said the first step in the project is to take-in-charge Main Street, Riverwalk and Millennium Square, and applications for the council to do so have yet to be made.

He added that should such applications be made the council could add Main Street to its daily streeting cleaning service.

Should the council take the area in charge Mr Daly said an application would be made for funding for a pedestrian bridge.

“Until then we’re not in a position to progress plans,” he said.