Viaduct repairs could cost €5m - Dempsey
Thursday, 5 November 2009 21:07The Minister for Transport has said the total cost of repair of the Malahide viaduct would be in the order of €4.5m to €5m.
Noel Dempsey said he expected the line to be reopened later this month.
A major rail disaster was narrowly avoided at the end of August, when part of the Broadmeadow viaduct just outside the north Dublin town collapsed into the estuary just after a train had passed over it.
The Minister was responding to a question from Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd.
Mr O'Dowd said it was not acceptable that proper checks were not carried out on the track after warnings from an external source.
The Minister agreed that it was a source of concern, but said he would await the report of the Railway Safety Commission before commenting on the specific case.
The collapse caused major disruption to passengers using north Dublin commuter services and travelling between Dublin and Belfast, with curtailed services and bus transfers in operation.
AdvertisementSince then Iarnród Éireann has worked around the clock and spent over €4m repairing the pier that collapsed, rebuilding the weir upon which the viaduct stands, reinforcing the other piers, and replacing the bridge.
The work is in its final stages now and Iarnród Éireann says that providing the work passes the necessary safety assessments, the full normal schedule will return on Monday 16 November.
