KCC Begins Preparation Of Tender Documents Relating To 2nd Bridge In Newbridge.

The project failed to win URDF funding earlier this year.

Kildare County Council is beginning to prepare tender documents for preparatory works for a second bridge in Newbridge.

The project failed to win URDF funding earlier this year.

KCC applications for funding for projects in Celbridge, Maynooth and Naas won a combined €15 million.

Kildare South Fine Gael TD, and Minister of State, Martin Heydon, says Kildare County Council has commenced the required work to progress the second bridge project to Part 8.

Tender documents are being prepared for an Engineering Consultancy Service tender for delivery of Phase 1 to Phase 4 of the Transport Infrastructure Ireland Project Management Guidelines.

Deputy Heydon says “I will continue to work with Kildare County Council to support this vital project to ensure progress continues to move in the right direction”

Kildare South Sinn Fein TD, Patricia Ryan, has also welcomed this progress.

She says, however, questions remain about why the URDF funding failed  "I was disappointed in the reply I have received from the Department, as it was very vague. Kildare County Council have requested a follow up meeting with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ask for feedback about the URDF application. I have emailed the Minister as I, too, have a number of questions I would like to put to him.

"I have also requested a meeting with Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Transport. This bridge is absolutely essential for Newbridge to ensure sustainable development takes place. If URDF funding is not available, we must identify an alternative "

"Kildare County Council have informed me that the feedback from the Department will be shared with the public, but I assume it will be as vague as the reply I have received from them when I questioned the reason for the refusal. Cllr Noel Connolly and Chris McManus MEP met with KCC CEO Peter Carey and among other things discussed the need for a second bridge. To be fair to Peter he is very aware of the importance of this vital piece of infrastructure is to sustainable funding stream. I do not think a vague, non-answer from the departments is good enough and I will not be accepting it. The people of Newbridge deserve a full and complete explanation. development in Newbridge. "