Locals and business people have turned out this morning to protest at the continued breach of a bridge weight restriction by large vehicles at Latoon.
Around 25 people gathered at Latoon Creek Bridge on the old N18 Ennis to Limerick road and flagged down vehicles they believed to be close to or above a 3.5 tonne restriction.
The weight restriction was placed on the bridge last December after it was established the structural capacity of the bridge was compromised.
Earlier this month, Clare County Council warned that it could be forced to close the bridge if drivers continue to ignore warning signs.
Todays protest was organised by Ann McGuire from Manus near Clarecastle.
She said: “Heavy trucks continue to cross this bridge when they are not supposed to be. They are breaking the law and worsening the damage already caused to the bridge.”
“The council has already threatened to close the bridge if truck drivers continue to ignore the weight restriction and that would be an awful loss to everyone around here,” she said.
Clare County Council Senior Engineer Tom Tiernan said: “Since Clare County Council issued its warning on Thursday June 2nd, the volume of vehicles breaching the 3.5 tonne weight restriction on Latoon Creek Bridge has been reduced by 50%.
Clare County Council welcomes this progress and would remind all drivers that there can be no exception to the weight restriction in place indicating that the limit is 3.5 tonnes.”
“While Clare County Council is seeking to keep the bridge open, if vehicles greater than 3.5 tonnes continue to ignore the weight restriction Clare County Council will have no option but to close the bridge to all vehicles until repairs are carried out,” Mr. Tiernan said.