§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has completed a survey into the damage caused to road bridges in Northern Ireland as a result of the floods on 21 October; if he will list(a) the bridges damaged, (b) the bridges destroyed and, (c) those which will have to be demolished and replaced; and what is his estimate of the cost of (i) repairing damage and (ii) replacing bridges.
§ Mr. ViggersThere are approximately 5,000 bridges in Northern Ireland and it has not yet been possible to complete a detailed survey. To date, 25 bridges have been found to be damaged. They are:
- Glasker Bridge, Rathfriland, County Down
- Tullyah, Camlough, County Armagh
- Maintain, Camlough, County Armagh
- Ashtree Hill, Laurelvale, County Armagh
- Fry's Bridge, Dromara, County Down
- Kilnhill Road, Dromara, County Down
- Old Mill Road, Scarva, County Down
- Ballyroney Road, Rathfriland, County Down
- Darkley Road, Keady, County Armagh
- Drumhillery Road, Middletown, County Armagh
- Tassagh, Keady, County Armagh
- Cladybeg, Markethill, County Armagh
- Dromore Road, Lurgan, County Armagh
- Aghadowey (2), County Londonderry
- Legavallon Pot, Limavady, County Londonderry
- Ahoghill Road, Randalstown, County Antrim
- Parkgate, County Antrim
- Crumlin, County Antrim
- Magheramason, County Tyrone
- Greencastle, County Tyrone
- Usnagh Burn, County Tyrone
- Drumbinnion, County Tyrone
- Railway Bridge, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone
At this stage it is not possible to say whether these bridges will need to be demolished and replaced or can be strengthened. All necessary precautions have been taken to safeguard and assist traffic movement.
320WThe following seven bridges have been washed away:
- Rathtrillick, County Armagh
- Derryhennet, County Armagh
- Carrick, near Clogher, County Tyrone
- Drumnakilly, County Tyrone
- Killymaddy, County Tyrone
- Footbridge, Sionmills, County Tyrone
- Cullycapple, County Londonderry
Estimates of the cost of refurbishing and replacing these bridges are not yet complete, but are unlikely to be less than £1 million.