“Ten month closure will cause enormous disruption and additional costs for residents and businesses in parts of Drogheda; South Louth and East Meath”

The Drogheda City Status Group has said that the Government must allow free M1 passage to local traffic whilst the Obelisk Bridge is closed to to all vehicular and pedestrian/cycle traffic from 1st August 2023 to 31st May 2024 to allow for repair works.

News that Government has no plans to make alternative arrangements for residents and businesses affected by the imminent closure of the historic Obelisk Bridge at Oldbridge, County Meath for extensive repairs was greeted with dismay by members of the DCSG today.

“The planned ten month closure will cause enormous disruption and additional costs for residents and businesses in parts of Drogheda; South Louth and East Meath,” said Anna McKenna, Chairperson of the Drogheda City Status Group.  

“Unless an arrangement is put in place to allow toll free access to and from Drogheda, this is likely to cost daily users of the Obelisk Bridge upwards of a thousand euro in toll charges for the duration of the closure, and will disrupt traffic patterns in the Drogheda Metropolitan Area where construction traffic is likely to create delays.”

The group is proposing a straightforward solution which would eliminate the toll costs during the bridge repairs. “Repair work is projected to take ten months. If Government and TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) extend the toll contract by a similar period, local access to and from Drogheda can be free of charge while the repairs are underway.

“This must seriously and promptly be considered. At the moment there seems to be no consideration for the families and businesses affected.

“We are calling on all local and national public representatives in Louth and Meath to get involved to address this major inconvenience as a matter of urgency, as we have heard suggestions that locals may take their protest onto the M1 motorway if nothing is done. Our simple proposal helps alleviate the disruption and cost for all concerned, while the toll company get an extension to their contract.

Anna concluded by calling for people to get involved in the wider campaign for city status by emailing droghedacitynow@gmail.com for full details.