Bandon bridge is to be closed to traffic from 7pm to 6am until Friday October 3rd to facilitate resurfacing works and motorists travelling through Bandon are being asked to be aware of the closure and  detours in place during this period.

Works began last night (September 25th) but pedestrians will still be able to access the bridge, while the bridge will be open from 6am on Saturdays until 7pm on Sunday to facilitate weekend travel, while detours are in place with motorists being asked to go via Baxter’s Bridge.

At this week's meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District, Cllr Ann Bambury (SD) welcomed  resurfacing works for the bridge and said it was the topic of conversation from people over the summer and that the night-time closure will help.

Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF) said she is glad that the stone bridge is getting some attention and asked if it was possible for engineers to look at the structure underneath.

However, senior executive engineer Richard Cahill said that it has been examined by the bridge section team and they have no concerns for the structure of the bridge, which is over 200 years old

Cllr Coughlan also requested that detour signs be erected well beyond the town in villages like Enniskeane and Innishannon to alert motorists that the bridge will be closed so they can then make alternative arrangements.

‘There is a huge amount of traffic crossing this bridge on a daily basis from 7am and pre-warning people and getting text messages out and early about its closure would be very crucial,’ said Cllr Coughlan.

He also said that signs are already erected about the closure and detours in place and he would ask the contractors about putting signs further out of the town in nearby villages.