The River Corrib’s most prominent bridge is due to undergo a €2.5 million remediation after years of neglect.
The Roads Department of Galway City Council is understood to be close to selecting a contractor to begin a four-year project to rejuvenate the 208-year-old Salmon Weir Bridge, with works to begin in the coming months.
Originally designed by lauded, nineteenth century Irish architect William Vitruvius Morrison to link the court house with the county gaol – today the site of Galway Cathedral – the majestic span has faced criticism for many years for looking tatty and worn, with broken kerbing, damaged Victorian street lights, and a heavily chipped balustrade.
Heavy goods vehicles and buses struggle to exit the east landing of the bridge, while a new pedestrian crossing was built on the Cathedral-side last year.
Galway West TD, John Connolly, said he welcomed progress on the bridge, which he had previously described as looking “tawdry” when he served as a city councillor in 2022 ahead of a €100,000 project to clear vegetation from the ageing structure.
"I warmly welcome these proposed works,” he said. “The Salmon Weir Bridge is one of Galway's most recognisable landmarks and an essential piece of infrastructure, carrying thousands of passengers on public transport every day. It is vital that we continue to invest in maintaining and protecting this historic structure."
The proposed works will include extensive conservation and maintenance measures such as specialist stone cleaning, masonry repairs and repointing, refurbishment of parapets, replacement heritage lighting, footpath reconstruction, road resurfacing, and maintenance of the existing watermain attached to the southern side of the legally protected structure.
Specialist conservators of historic structures are required, according to city council tender documents, and the top layer of the bridge’s modern pavements will be ‘planed’ and re-levelled.
Deputy Connolly said he was calling on Galway City Council to apply to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII ) to fund a pedestrian and cycle bridge on the old Clifden railway bridge further upstream, after the National Transport Agency (NTA ) pulled its financial support.
“The TII is the main agency behind the Connemara Greenway, so it should help the city build this bridge which can then become the beginning of the greenway,” he said.
Connolly further recommended a thorough assessment of the disused eel cages and salmon traps next to the Salmon Weir Bridge, to strike a balance between preserving industrial heritage, with water safety, as these river obstacles pose serious risks to emergency services effecting river rescues in the area.
