Bridge 'hit squad' goes to work

Work began in earnest this week on the refurbishment of the bridge, using money allocated by the Department of the Environment several years ago.



Kildare County Council is in charge of the work, which includes replacing the footpaths, changing the lighting, and landscaping the bridge area.



The Council's plans have been the subject of sometimes controversial discussion at meetings of Kilcullen Community Action in recent months.



But the money has to be spent before the end of this year, and the flurry of activity in recent days is already showing results perceived to be much faster than the norm from a local authority operation.



"We're the 'hit squad'," one worker on the project told the Diary with a grin as, even in the dusk of a Friday evening, bollards and granite kerbing were being installed and wiring for the new lights was being conduited along the excavated footpath area on one side of the bridge.

One estimate offered was that it would take a week to finish one side ('the cobble lock takes time'). Still, the work might well be completely finished before the end of the month.

Whatever about the recent localised controversy about how the money is being spent, the Diary makes its own acknowledgement to work that seems to be efficient in progress.

Brian Byrne.