FEATURE: The Odyssey... of the second bridge for Newbridge in Kildare

A TD for Kildare asserted that the project ‘is one of the key investments and pieces of infrastructure needed to support the continued development of Newbridge’

By Ciarán Mather Published 7th Aug 2026, 09:00 BST The current main bridge (also known as St Conleth’s Bridge) in Newbridge | FILE PHOTOGRAPH A TD for Kildare asserted that the project ‘is one of the key investments and pieces of infrastructure needed to support the continued development of Newbridge’ Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.

Given that the word ‘bridge’ makes up most of the name of Newbridge — one of the county’s most populated towns — it is safe to say that the current bridge has been a staple of the town’s history.

The structure has acted as a vital piece of infrastructure for the residents of the town over the years — as noted by the historian Liam Kenny back in 2016: “Newbridge is particularly significant because it is a name that can be dated to the construction of a bridge in a relatively modern time. There was a wooden bridge [over the Liffey] built there in the late 17th century and a stone one in the late 18th century.”

However, with the growth of Newbridge’s population, particularly over the past few decades, the town has fallen victim to traffic congestion, much to the ire of many residents.

Read More Community centre/sports facility planned for Kildare football club Brenda Fricker remembered as mischievous ‘free spirit’ at Dublin funeral 10K and 5K fun run coming soon to Kildare sports club Sum of cash stolen from rural Kildare home Notably, back in 2016, a call was made for the creation of a new traffic management plan for the town, given the backlog of traffic trying to cross St Conleth's Bridge in order to access four nearby schools which provide education for hundreds of children and teenagers.

Then-councillor Fiona O’Loughlin , who is now a Senator, made the call, but also noted that other councillors in the Kildare -Newbridge Municipal District (MD) had raised the issue of traffic in Newbridge previously.

Moreover, an area engineer for Kildare County Council (KCC) at the time especially pointed out that between 20,000 and 25,000 cars travel over this bridge each day.

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fáil) | FILE PHOTOGRAPH REGULAR CALLS

Although appeals and renewed calls from both political representatives and residents emerged on a regular basis, the development of a second bridge seemed to fall into a state limbo for the next few years, and this stagnation likely was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic from early 2020 to late 2021.

However, back in 2021, Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon , who is now the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, announced that he had held government talks on a proposed new bridge for Newbridge.

This was a notable development, as the project had missed out on vital government funding at the time.

Subsequently, in October of 2022, it was estimated by KCC officials that a second bridge for the town could cost more than €6 million to build.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD (Fine Gael) | PHOTOGRAPH CREDIT: OIREACHTAS.IE GREEN LIGHT

Despite these apparent setbacks, nearly one year later, in September of 2023, those patiently waiting for the creation of a second bridge received a huge update when KCC revealed that it had given the green light for the long-awaited second bridge to be constructed over the River Liffey .

One political representative who welcomed the news at the time was Minister Heydon.

He explained that the granting of permission by KCC to Aston Limited for a five span bridge of 170 metres in length (along with a lengthy distributor road) created ‘great momentum for its delivery, considering that a number of other important developments in the area are still awaiting decision from An Bord Pleanála ’.

The Minister also revealed: “In addition to the bridge and distributor road, permission has also been granted for a proposed River Park of approximately 9.2 hectares as a multi-use recreational amenity, including pedestrian and cycle routes connecting to existing public space network, and a multi-use games area.

“The next steps in this project will be for KCC to engage with the developer who has been granted the permission, and work can then proceed on the detailed design for the bridge as funding options are also considered.”

Deputy Heydon concluded his statement by asserting that the project ‘is one of the key investments and pieces of infrastructure needed to support the continued development of the town of Newbridge’.

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The project remained in a relaxed state of existence until February of 2026, when the proposed second bridge project, under KCC’s direction, received €200,000 in approved funding.

This announcement was raised at a Kildare-Newbridge MD meeting by Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey , when he asked KCC for an update on the project.

In response, KCC told him: “The Roads Capital Projects Team are working to finalise tender documents for the appointment of a consultant to deliver this project, and are also awaiting confirmation of funding from the Department of Transport for 2026.”

Cllr Noel Heavey (Fianna Fáil) | PHOTOGRAPH CREDIT: MARTIN CONNELLY That same month, Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender , expressed cautious optimism over the update.

He elaborated: “There is progress on a second bridge, but clarity is now essential to avoid delay and waste.”

Cllr Pender also said that while the approval of €200,000 was ‘broadly welcomed across the town’, he insisted that the funding ‘is not excessive in itself’ and warned that ‘how it is used will determine whether it delivers real progress or repeats work already completed’.

Cllr Pender continued: “There is already an active and approved planning permission associated with this bridge.

“Under Irish planning law, permission runs with the land, not the original developer; that fact cannot be ignored.”

Cllr Pender stressed his view that the central issue is ‘whether KCC intends to reuse the existing permission and move directly toward construction readiness, or whether the project risks being pushed back into redesign and a fresh planning process’.

Cllr Chris Pender (Social Democrats) | FILE PHOTOGRAPH He elaborated: “If this funding is used to adapt an already approved scheme to public infrastructure standards and bring it to tender stage, that is sensible and responsible.

“[And] if it results in starting again, triggering new planning requirements, then people are right to question whether time and public money are being wasted.”

Cllr Pender also said that the people of Newbridge cannot afford more delays, as residents ‘experience daily congestion’.

He also claimed that emergency access across the Liffey is ‘constrained’.

“The town has grown rapidly, but the infrastructure has not kept pace,” he added. “A second bridge is not optional, it is overdue.”

Moreover, Cllr Pender called for KCC to ‘provide clear answers’ on whether the planning permission at the time remained ‘valid, whether the land tied to it will be acquired or controlled by the local authority, and whether this funding will avoid a new planning process rather than create one’.

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Then, a major update in relation to the long-sought-after project occurred — an ‘absolute game changer’ in funds was granted to the proposed second bridge.

Specifically, €20 million in funding was announced for the proposed second bridge in Newbridge.

It was allocated by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD (Fianna Fáil), who granted it to KCC.

Furthermore, it was announced that work on the project was expected to begin sometime in 2027.

Senator O’Loughlin was among the first political reps to welcome the news, and said that she had been ‘engaging extensively’ with both Ministers James Brown TD and Darragh O’Brien TD ‘to get to this point’ (Both TDs are also party colleagues of Senator O’Loughlin).

Another local rep, Cllr Heavey, also gave his views on the matter: “The expected announcement of €20m being ring-fenced by Minister Browne for the completion of this development is most welcome.”

Mayor Heavey added: “My earnest hope is that all stakeholders and statutory bodies will now push on to deliver the bridge and the road necessary to complete the Newbridge Southern Relief Road within the next two years.”

A separate local rep, Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer , said that she was ‘delighted’ to hear about the allocation.

Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer (Fine Gael) | FILE PHOTOGRAPH She elaborated: “We now need to move forward to get towards a completion schedule, but it certainly will make a significant difference towards our traffic management.”

Her party colleague, Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer , also welcomed the news: “This is an absolute game changer for Newbridge; for years, the town has endured severe traffic gridlock, and locals have rightfully demanded a real, structural solution.

“In particular, I want to highlight the vital work done during the recent Newbridge Settlement Plan.”

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer (Fine Gael) | PHOTOGRAPH CREDIT: KILDARECOCO.IE She concluded: “By consistently raising these objectives at Council level, we ensured the plans remained shovel-ready and robust enough to secure this massive national investment.”

Cllr Chris Pender also joined in on the warm reception: “People have been hearing about the second bridge for decades, so confirmation that €20m has now been allocated for its construction is very welcome.”

He added: “It is also significant that the money is coming through the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF), as the bridge is essential to supporting planned housing development in Newbridge.”

However, Cllr Pender emphasised that it is important to ‘be clear’ about where the project currently stands: “The immediate priority must be to appoint the engineering consultant, complete that work as quickly as possible and establish a firm timetable for the construction tender and the commencement of works.”

He concluded by asserting that he will ‘continue to seek regular updates and press for the project, in order to move through each remaining stage without further unnecessary delay’.

Lastly, a separate local rep, who likewise shared a positive reaction to the news, also pointed out the specifics of the funding granted to the project.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Rob Power welcomed the overall HIIF allocations, and in particular, he noted that the HIIF, which is worth a total of €862m, is associated with 82 different projects.

Cllr Rob Power (Fianna Fáil) | FIANNA FÁIL “This figure is indicative given the delivery stage of projects,” Cllr Power explained. “The estimated cost for each project is categorised into three separate bands: less than €10m, €10m to €20m and more than €20m, giving a general indication of cost range associated with each project.”

He added: “The Newbridge project is in the ‘more than €20m’ band, so it [the funding] is likely [going to be] more.”

Lastly, just last month, Cllr Heavey asked KCC if it could provide a schedule of stages needed to complete a highly anticipated bridge project, as well as an ambitious road project.

Replying to Cllr Heavey’s motion, KCC told him: “Planning is in place for this project, along with funding following the recent HIIF announcement.

“The next stage is to complete the detailed design for the scheme”

KCC also noted the funding allocation in June and emphasised that the next stage of the project ‘is to complete the detailed design for the scheme’.

KCC said that work on the scheme had commenced and is due to be completed by Quarter 1 of 2027.

Alongside this, KCC said: “It is hoped to issue a tender for the construction of the scheme thereafter, with a view to commencing works onsite in Q3 2027, with works to be completed in 2028.”

Following this, Cllr Heavey told KCC that he welcomed the funding allocation for both projects.

Although the big updates that were peppered through 2026 were well-received, it should be noted that shovels have yet to hit the ground in relation to both the second bridge and distributor road projects.

With this fact in mind, it is safe to say that the saga of the second bridge for Newbridge is far from over.