A historic bridge that was partially reopened much to the relief of a community left “isolated” by its closure may be shut again thanks to drivers failing to follow road rules, it has been warned.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said it “may have no alternative” but to close Kilrea Bridge once again if weight restrictions are not adhered to.
There have been reports of vehicles failing to adhere to the temporary restrictions since the reopening on Saturday.
The bridge crossing the River Bann is the only main route from Kilrea in Co Derry into Co Antrim, and its full closure in September following the discovery of cracks in one of its retaining walls led to major disruption for the area.
Traders were significantly hit by the bridge closure, with one reporting a 50% drop in sales.
The bridge, built in 1783, partially reopened on Saturday to cars and light vehicles up to three tonnes, with a 2.5 metre width restriction in place.
Repair works are ongoing, with all work set to be completed – and the bridge fully reopened – by mid-February.
Just hours after the partial reopening on Saturday, a lorry became stuck on the bridge while attempting to cross it.
Now, reports of drivers breaching the restriction rules has led to a warning that the bridge could be closed once again.
In a letter to Aontú deputy leader Gemma Brolly, who raised the issue of reported breaches with the department, a DfI spokesperson explained the restrictions are underwritten with a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, making it a criminal offence to breach them.
“We will continue to monitor the current arrangements over the coming weeks and will reinforce the weight restriction message,” they said.
The letter added: “Unfortunately, if repeated and constant breaches occur, to ensure the safety of our workers and the travelling public, we may have no alternative but to close the bridge again until the permanent repairs are completed in mid-February 2026.”
In a social media post on the correspondence, Ms Brolly, her party’s East Derry representative, said: “Reports of breaches are ongoing. While the frustration for drivers of 3+ tonnes is completely understandable, it is absolutely essential this is adhered to.”
She added: “Place the frustration at the feet of government to build a new bridge.”
An online petition has been launched to build a new bridge over the Bann, to avoid problems caused by future closures of the historic bridge.
It states the closures “are not mere inconveniences – they are substantial barriers that affect daily routines and create serious risks during emergencies".
A DfI spokesperson said: “The Kilrea Bridge opened to light vehicles on Saturday 6 December with access controlled using a 2.5m width restriction at both ends of the bridge to ensure safety through the ongoing site works. The temporary stabilisation works have been designed to safely accommodate traffic up to a 3-tonne weight limit while the permanent repair works continue.
“The bridge remains an active construction site, and we are grateful that the vast majority of drivers have complied with the restrictions in place. We have however observed a small number of breaches, and this creates a health and safety risk.
“We therefore urge all drivers to abide by the restrictions in place to ensure the safety of our workers and the travelling public. We will continue to monitor traffic in the area and liaise with the police on any further breaches.”
