Luke Sproule News NI Mid Ulster reporter
The reopening of a crucial link across the River Bann has provided a boost to businesses and residents in a County Londonderry village, but fears remain over the long-term future of the bridge.
The bridge at Kilrea closed in September after cracking was found in a retaining wall and reopened to cars and other light vehicles on 6 December after temporary repairs.
It is hoped it will fully reopen by mid-February, but businesses are concerned the 18th Century structure is not a sustainable route across the Bann.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said it was pleased to have been able to reopen the bridge and that there were no other current structural concerns and no plans to replace it.
‘We need to feel safe’
Some business owners have also told News NI that they felt ignored by politicians at Stormont and criticised the lack of financial support for traders.
Agnieszka McIntyre, who runs a restaurant with her husband metres away from the bridge, said the reopening was a relief and footfall at her business had improved.
But she said there was an issue with the length of time it was taking deliveries in larger vehicles to reach her restaurant, as they are still being diverted.
She said she feared the bridge – which was previously closed for more than a month in 2022 – would not remain open permanently and described repairs as a “sticking plaster”.
“That bridge was built over 200 years ago for horses and carts, not for lorries.
“What we need is to feel safe, to feel like it’s not going to happen again.
“Yes we know that Kilrea is not a big place, but it’s not all about Kilrea, so we need a new bridge.
“I appreciate it’s going to be a massive investment to build a new bridge. But in the long run, it’s going to be a benefit and not just to us in Kilrea.”
Drop in sales
Kenny Bradley, who owns a shop and fuel station in Kilrea, said his business saw a 30% drop in food sales and a 50% decrease in food-to-go sales since the closure.
He said the reopening of the bridge had brought an increase in trade but estimated it would be another year before things returned to normal.
“We’re happy to see it and I suppose the major concern is how long will it last before something like this happens again,” he said.
“It’s a 1700s historical piece of infrastructure.
“I don’t know why we’re having to lobby for common sense, the common sense logical approach is build a new bridge.”
The bridge was originally constructed in 1783 and is a listed structure.
It connects Kilrea with the eastern bank of the Bann and places such as Rasharkin and Dunloy.
Smaller towns and villages ‘left behind’
Mr Bradley added he was frustrated at a lack of financial support for businesses.
The infrastructure and community ministers both told the Northern Ireland Assembly their departments were not responsible for compensation in such cases.
The infrastructure minister told the assembly her department did not offer compensation for “pure economic loss resulting from the exercise of its statutory duty to maintain the public road network”.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons told the assembly his department was not responsible for small settlements such as Kilrea with a population under 5,000.
The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs told News NI it was also not responsible.
“The feeling is we have just been left,” Mr Bradley said.
“If this was happening in Belfast or Newry or anywhere else they’d have been all over it.
“We’ve been passed around, nobody’s taken any responsibility.
“This is an issue for all smaller towns or villages across the province where if something like this happens none of the departments are willing to step up and take responsibility.
Ciara McErlean from one of the pharmacies in the village shared Mr Bradley’s sentiment.
“We feel like we’ve been left on an island, that’s what it’s like,” she said.
Martin McKenna from the pharmacy said a new bridge was the only long-term solution.
“I don’t think anybody can guarantee that this existing structure is going to be able to continue to do its job, so I think the only thing is a new bridge,” he added.
A spokesperson for the DfI said there were no plans to replace the bridge or build a new bridge alongside it.
They said any plans for a new bridge at a different location were set out in local transport plans, which were informed by councils’ local development plans.
The Causeway Coast and Glens local development plan, which covers Kilrea, is to be published in late 2026 for public consultation.
“We will continue to carry out inspections and take forward any priority repairs, when necessary, as with any other highway structure,” the spokesperson said.
