Council warning on Dyke Road bridge

Galway City Council has warned it’s a case of ‘driver beware’, after yet another van struck the bridge on the Dyke Road.

The rental van became wedged under the bridge at around midday last Tuesday, causing serious traffic backlogs in both directions.

The bridge is hit dozens of times each year by van and truck drivers who fail to notice, or heed, warning signage.

Local area councillor Frank Fahy has expressed concerns about the situation on numerous occasions, and previously called for a safety audit on the bridge.

“Cars and vans drive down the Dyke Road at an awful speed. There are chunks of the bridge missing at this stage, and who knows if a lump could fall off and go through a windscreen,” he said.

He added that the Sandy River bridge is also being damaged by vehicles hitting it at speed.

A spokesperson for the City Council said that height restriction signage is in place at the bridge, and also at the Headford Road and Menlo junctions warning of the low bridge.

“Drivers need to exercise caution when dealing with higher vehicles. They need to be aware of their laden and unladen heights. That roadway (under the bridge) is really only appropriate for cars and small vans.

“There are a series of warning signs that indicate when approaching that it is a low bridge. It is very, very well signed. It is the driver’s responsibility that they know the clearance of their own vehicles,” the spokesperson said.

He added that the Roads Department will look at the situation, but there is adequate signage in place, and the bridge structure is sound.

“Bridge strikes are an issue. It is very hard to legislate for drivers who do not take adequate care and it causes issues, particularly at railway bridges across the country. That bridge is very low,” the spokesperson said.