‘Complexities in the construction’ of the Rose Fitzgerald Bridge, destined to be Ireland’s longest bridge at 887 metres, and part of the €230 million New Ross by-pass crossing the River Barrow, south of New Ross, connecting Strokestown to Pink Rock Point, is falling behind schedule and the official opening has been delayed.

The ‘extrados’ type bridge –a combination of cable stay and pier support –is, according to builders Bam Ireland and Spanish firm Dragados, the longest of its kind in the world and the longest of any kind in the State. The 887m length compares with 866m for the length of the Foyle bridge in Derry, and just 465m for the River Suir bridge in Waterford.

Overall the New Ross bypass includes 14km of dual carriageway on which traffic diverts from the existing N30 at Corcoran’s Cross, east of New Ross. The route then passes to the south of the town on the Wexford side of the Barrow river. The new bridge then crosses the Barrow and goes on to link up with the N25 Rosslare-to-Cork road at a roundabout near Glenmore in Co Kilkenny.

The bypass was initially scheduled to be open early this year, but complexities in the construction of the bridge led to delays and the latest estimate is that it will open “before the end of this year!”