SECTIONS of an old bridge crossing the Blackrock amenity walk were vandalised over the weekend, with large pieces of the stone pushed from the parapet onto the walkway below.
It has led to calls for the bridge to be closed, if CCTV cameras cannot be installed there permanently.
Part of the Skehard Road old railway bridge parapet was pushed down onto the Walkway of the old Cork Passage Railway. Picture: Denis Scannell
The Ballinsheen Bridge formed a section of the old Skehard Road and crossed the former Blackrock-to-Passage West railway line, which is now a popular amenity for walkers, runners and cyclists. The bridge connects Oakdene Estate and the Aldi store on Blackrock Avenue.
At the weekend, four large pieces of stone were pushed off the bridge.
City Councillor, Des Cahill, said anybody walking or cycling underneath the bridge could have been killed.
“Residents from the nearby Oakdene Estate contacted me about this issue, saying the stones were pushed from the bridge sometime between Friday morning and Saturday night.
“It is likely this occurred late on Friday, but there was still the possibility somebody was walking or cycling underneath it,” he said.
“We asked, previously, that the bridge would get CCTV cameras to monitor it on a permanent or temporary basis.
“However, if we cannot get cameras there, then we need to close the bridge to the public. It’s too dangerous to leave it as it is,” he said.
The part of the Skehard Road old railway bridge parapet was pushed down onto the Cork Passage Railway Walkway.
Cllr Cahill said some residents nearby want the bridge closed permanently. “It is unfortunate, but if it cannot be secured I cannot see any alternative.”
Denis O’Regan regularly cycles the old railway line and said the area is often littered with cans and bottles.
“There’s a lot of anti-social behavior there, over holidays, with teenagers drinking at the underpass. You always see lots of broken glass and cans there,” he said.
“The amenity walk is used by hundreds of recreational users and Mahon commuters, so it is not ideal, especially if the City Council is trying to promote it as a cycling route to City Gate.”