Railway bridge delays cost Government millions

THE STATE is paying out millions of euro in compensation to road contractors as a result of delays by Iarnród Éireann in approving the design of bridges over railway lines.

As a result of the delays, the State has already been forced to pay out €7 million on one claim and faces a number of similar claims. The claims, citing alleged delays in the approval of two national road bridges on the N6 Ballinasloe to Athlone route, have been lodged with Galway County Council.

According to documents released by the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Freedom of Information Act, the “NRA is continuing to incur significant costs as a consequence of contractor claims in respect of disruption to work programmes for major road schemes because of undue delays on the part of Iarnród Éireann in the approval of national road bridges over railway lines”.

The NRA has brought the issue to the attention of Transport Minister Noel Dempsey.

Iarnród Éireann has rejected responsibility for the costly delays, saying its guidance documents state clearly the amount of time road building companies must allow for the approval of bridge designs. It suggested these timeframes are being ignored by contractors.

Spokesman Barry Kenny said: “Where delays have tended to arise is where Iarnród Éireann has been awaiting a response from the NRA’s contractors.”

He said senior officials from the NRA and Iarnród Éireann are due to meet this week to discuss the problems.

An independent engineer ruled late last year that the consortium building the Kilcullen to Waterford section of the N9/N10 was entitled to almost €7 million in compensation due to delays in obtaining consent from Iarnród Éireann for the construction of a bridge over a rail line along the route. Iarnród Éireann must approve all bridge designs over railway lines before the contractor can commence construction.

As a result of the Iarnród Éireann dispute, the NRA is expected to seek changes to design contracts in relation to bridges over railways. A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said clear instructions had been sent to both agencies to “immediately resolve any outstanding issues”.