A bridge at an accident black spot on the Waterford-Cork road is to be demolished within days after protests by residents following a fatal accident this week.
The disused railway bridge at Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, was to have been removed in November at the start of a major realignment project carried out by a French contractor.
Residents demanded its immediate demolition and blocked traffic for a short time on Wednesday evening. The protest followed the death of a local man in a collision at the bridge the previous day.
Mr Michael Mulcahy (48) was pronounced dead at the scene after the van he was driving collided with an articulated truck. The driver of the truck and a passenger in Mr Mulcahy's van were injured and taken to Waterford Regional Hospital.
Locals say the bridge has been a dangerous spot for some time, with an average of three accidents a week there. The road narrows on the approach from the Waterford side and lorries travelling in either direction must take the middle of the road where the bridge reaches maximum height.
The secretary of Waterford County Council, Mr Peter Carey, said the council had contacted CIE and was awaiting permission to remove the bridge. "We have arrangements made with a contractor and we would hope to be in a position, if not this weekend, then certainly next weekend to remove the bridge," he said.
Mr Paddy Gallagher, who organised the protest, said he was satisfied with the outcome. The 150 residents in the action had not intended to block traffic, he said, but when this occurred they were supported by drivers caught in the resulting tailback.
"I went back along the line and not one of them was critical. They asked us why we hadn't done it sooner," he said.
