Repair works to begin on Kilrea Bridge after safety closure

Kilrea Bridge

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed that repair works on Kilrea Bridge are due to begin on Monday 10 November, following weeks of disruption since the bridge was closed on 20 September over structural safety concerns.

The bridge, which carries the B64 Bann Road over the River Bann, was shut in both directions after an inspection identified extensive cracking on a retaining wall at the south-west end of the structure.

A DfI spokesperson said:

“Since the closure of the Kilrea Bridge the Department has carried out a ground investigation, developed a technical solution and tendered for a specialist contractor to allow the road to reopen.

“We are pleased to confirm that a specialist contractor has now been appointed and work to repair the damage will commence on Monday 10 November. This will be a 14-week scheme, which is longer than originally anticipated, due to the difficult ground conditions on site.”

The Department explained that the repair process will involve specialist drilling between the two approach walls beneath the existing road surface, with tie-bars inserted to strengthen and connect the retaining walls on either side.

“The solution requires specialist equipment to drill between the two approach walls beneath the existing road surface. Tie-bars will then be inserted into these drilled holes to structurally connect the retaining walls on either side of the road,” the spokesperson added.

“The contractor has advised that the presence of large boulders will make it more difficult for the drilling operation. As a result, it will take longer to drill, and the installation of each tie-bar will be more time-consuming.”

According to DfI, the 14-week project is expected to run until February, although the Department said it is working closely with the contractor to explore options to reduce the timescale where possible.

“We are continuing to engage with the contractor to explore options to reduce the timescale. We will keep the local communities up to date on the timeline throughout the works,” the spokesperson said.

The Department also acknowledged the ongoing impact of the closure on local residents and businesses in Kilrea and surrounding areas.

“We fully appreciate the impact of the ongoing closure and the understandable frustration of the local community, including businesses in the area and we thank them for their patience while we work to deliver a safe and effective solution.

“We want to reassure the public that we are working at speed to strengthen the road and will continue to explore every opportunity to accelerate progress and minimise disruption.”

Updates on the progress of the works will be made available on the Department’s website at infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.

The Kilrea Bridge, which provides a vital road link between Counties Antrim and Londonderry, has been closed for over six weeks, prompting calls from local representatives — including North Antrim MP Jim Allister — for the Department to prioritise repairs and consider a long-term replacement scheme.