Residents, farmers and business owners have protested at the closure of Latoon Creek Bridge outside Clarecastle in Co Clare, which they say will severely limit access to the village.
Clare County Council has closed the bridge for six months to demolish and reconstruct it as they say its structural capacity has been compromised and it can only accommodate light vehicles.
However locals are angry as they say there has been little or no consultation on the closure, particularly at what is a busy time of the year for businesses in the village.
They will not not be able to access the village from the Dromoland roundabout off the M18 and will only be able to do so by travelling onto the outskirts of Ennis.
Local businesses say that up to 8,000 vehicles access Clarecastle via the old R458 road off the M18 which is significant traffic that they fear will be lost because of the closure.
Businessman Paul Walsh, who runs and antique and coffee shop in the village, says they accept the bridge has to be strengthened but he said the consultation with locals by the council was poor.
He said there were other options open to the council such as the closure of just one lane and construction work to be timed on a 24/7 basis.
He said the closure of the bridge for six months is a radical option and while diversion signage is being placed on the M18 and other access routes directing people into Clarecastle it may be very difficult to get visitors back into the village if they are lost.
Another businessman PJ Keogh said the closure would have a devastating effect on the passing trade which was so important to the village.
He said they had asked the council to consider postponing the works until January as Christmas is such a busy time of the year but to no affect.
