PUNCH Consulting Engineers was engaged by Limerick City and County Council (LCCC). to undertake detailed structural inspection, assessment, and design of multiple Road Bridges throughout the county during the 2019 and subsequent 2020-2022 LCCC Bridge Rehabilitation Scheme. The service includes for preparation of Tender and Contract documents and the Supervision of the Project.

These works involve repair and replacement of masonry to abutments, arches, spandrel walls and parapets. Installation of Pre-cast Culverts and diversion of watermains. There are also works to the riverbed and reconstruction of road surfacing up to and including binder course and wearing course of DBM finished road level.

The works require traffic management to minimise impacts on the road network with the intention of always maintaining at least one lane of traffic where practicable.

Some of the Rivers are tributaries of rivers flowing into parts of the Lower River Shannon or Blackwater Special Area of Conservation and the works must therefore be constructed with attention to the protected ecological species. Constant liaison is ongoing with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) at a national and local level. In addition, Bat Surveys and Bat Derogation Licences, plus electro fishing licenses are required at several structures.

A number of the bridges are also Protected Structure, while others are close to historic abbeys and graveyards. The rehabilitation of these structures have to be carried out carefully and sensitively in consultation with the LCCC Conservation Officer and the Executive Archaeologist.