The C47 Tullygarley Road carries a lot more traffic than its lowly C-classification suggests. Forming part of the connection, at the south west of Ballymena, between the A26 from Belfast and the A42 Galgorm Road it is used by 14,000 vehicles each day. The existing road was of a relatively low standard, with the Tullygarley Road bridge a particular bottleneck. This scheme will see the road realigned, and provision of better footpaths and bus laybys. It will also see Tullygarley Bridge widened to accommodate better footpaths. Prior to the upgrade, two cars could just about pass on the bridge, but HGVs found it more difficult.

The bridge widening is being achieved by building a new bridge directly adjacent to the existing one and surfacing them as a single bridge. This new one is being built in sympathy with the existing stone arch bridge. Although the new bridge uses modern construction techniques, it has been designed to mirror the old in appearance - a very welcome approach indeed.

Thanks to Noel O'Rawe for the information on this page.

Updates

26 Feb 2009: Work is now virtually completed. The new bridge has been completed, surfaced and merged into the old bridge creating a much wider carriageway with pavements across the bridge. On either side, the Tullygarley Road has been realigned to removed sharp bends, leaving some sections of the old road as cul-de-sacs. Removal of the temporary footbridge was delayed after high winds prevented the crane being able to carry out the task safely. The way in which this old stone bridge has been widened to cater for modern traffic in such a tasteful manner must surely rate it amongst the finest pieces of bridge engineering in Northern Ireland in this decade.

The works completed on Tullygarley Bridge as seen on 1 Feb 2009. [Noel O'Rawe]

Looking along the widened bridge on 1 Feb 2009. The white lines show the line of the original road. The new carriageway is almost twice the width and has footpaths on each side. [Noel O'Rawe]

Looking from Tullygarley Bridge (behind camera) towards a section of the old road that is now a cul-de-sac after the Tulylgarley Road was realigned to smooth out the bend. Seen on 1 Feb 2009. [Noel O'Rawe]

2 Jan 2009: Work has progressed significantly since the last set of photos were posted here. All of the arches of the bridge have now been constructed. Picture 1 was taken in late November and shows how this was achieved - quite a remarkable piece of engineering. Picture 2 was taken in mid December and shows the fake stone cladding nearing completion. It is likely that works will be completed in the early part of 2009.

Pic 1: Detail of construction of the reinforced concrete arch. Taken 30 Nov 2008. [Noel O'Rawe]

Pic 2: The arches completed and stone cladding taking shape on 13 Dec 2008. Note how the line of piles is being used to channel the main force of the water in the river. [Noel O'Rawe]

Autumn 2008: Photos added, see below.

The original Tullygarley Road crossing the old bridge on the left. The widened
bridge is taking shape on the right. Seen in early autumn 2008. [Noel O'Rawe]

The new, widened, section of bridge is being built from modern reinforced concrete arches, but is being clad with stone to blend in with the old. Early autumn 2008. [Noel O'Rawe]

The widened section of Tullygarley Bridge taking shape in early autumn 2008. [Noel O'Rawe]