Kilrea Bridge closure leaves businesses fighting for survival as MLA calls for new crossing

Kilrea Bridge, and (inset) North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston

Businesses on both sides of the River Bann are facing severe financial pressure following the prolonged closure of Kilrea Bridge, with some traders reporting losses of hundreds of pounds per day and warning that their long-term viability is now at risk.

The issue was raised in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday by North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston, who used an Adjournment Debate to highlight the economic and community fallout caused by the bridge’s closure on 20 September.

Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Gaston thanked East Londonderry MLA Cara Hunter for securing the debate, saying it allowed him to draw attention to the cross-constituency impact of the disruption.

“The full closure of the bridge has severed the ties between East Londonderry and North Antrim and stopped a lot of trade passing over the Bann,” he said.

Businesses hit by dramatic loss of trade

Mr Gaston told MLAs that while the bridge has now partially reopened, with a full reopening to heavy vehicles expected in mid-February, the damage to local businesses has already been significant.

He revealed that one small retail business on the Craigs Road in his constituency has seen takings fall by £800 per day since the closure.

“For a small business, that is a massive drop in sales,” he said.

“To date, as far as I know, no Department has stepped forward to say, ‘Listen, we’re taking responsibility for this. We’re going to compensate you for the drop in sales’.”

On the Kilrea side of the bridge, the situation has been equally stark, with some businesses reporting a 50 per cent fall in trade.

“That impacted on them the whole way up to Christmas, and it will leave a lasting impact on their viability,” Mr Gaston warned.

Among the most severely affected is the well-known Kilrea Livestock Mart, which, according to the MLA, lost all of its trade from County Antrim as a direct result of the closure.

Knock-on effects felt across North Antrim

The closure has also caused widespread traffic disruption in neighbouring towns, particularly Portglenone, which absorbed much of the diverted traffic.

“What happened when the Kilrea Bridge closed? All of the traffic had to go on each side, which brought the town of Portglenone in my constituency to a standstill on many days,” Mr Gaston said.

Although temporary measures were introduced by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to restrict on-street parking, he said the congestion caused significant disruption to commuters and residents.

“Many commuters and many people who live in the town were put out by that,” he added.

Call for long-term solution and new bridge

Kilrea Bridge, a listed structure built in 1883, is single-track and no longer suited to modern traffic demands, according to the MLA. While he stressed that the historic bridge should be retained, he said the closure had exposed the urgent need for a new crossing.

“It is outdated, and it is only a single track. My goodness, given the amount of traffic coming across it each day, we must look in the long term at a new bridge,” he said.

Mr Gaston pressed the Infrastructure Minister to outline clear short-, medium- and long-term plans, warning that further structural defects could emerge.

“Who is to say that the structural defects will not come back in the near future?” he asked.

“The long-term plan must be a new bridge at Kilrea to ensure that, if the defects come back, we are already in the planning phase.”

He concluded by urging the Minister to provide clarity on timescales.

“The people of North Antrim and East Londonderry want to know your plans for the bridge.”